BOTANY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. / / 



This large piece on top covering the others is 

 called the standard or banner, a; you will notice 

 as I take this off how it is inserted by a project- 

 ing part into the side pieces, evidently to keep it 

 from being shaken off by the winds. The two 

 side pieces care now exposed, these are wings, 

 you see how strongly they are inserted with the 

 remaining part of the corolla, evidently for the 

 same purpose as the other. All that now re- 

 mains is the keel b (carina) of the boat covering, 

 the stamens, and pistils. Whenever rain ap- 

 proaches, the parts successively close one within 

 the other, until all are perfectly protected from 

 the storm. The stalk that sustains the flower 

 is very slender and flexible, so as to turn with 

 the current of air, and thus present its back to 

 the wind and rain. 



L. Do the number of anthers distinguish the 

 orders in this class ? 



E. Yes. The Petalostemons are the flow- 

 ers, you remember, which you were so much 

 surprised at in retaining their colors when dried 

 and kept for years in the herbarium. They 

 are among the handsomest of preserved flowers ; 

 the simple low clustering stems are so well 

 shown, and the cylindric heads of pink and red- 



