PARTS OF A FI.nWKK. 137 



and shapes. When, however, we examine them 

 more closely, we find that a very large number 

 of them are built up on a similar plan, just as 

 we found the various kinds of leaves to agree 

 in essential parts. In selecting the first flowers 

 for examination it is important to choose 

 those whose parts are large, simple, and not 

 too numerous. Such a flower is to be found 

 in almost any of the common 4 lilies ' of West 

 Indian gardens. 



2. In a lily flower the following parts can 

 be made out : Six large (white, red, or other 

 colour) leaf-like bodies the petals which 

 make the outside, showy portion of the flower. 

 They are obviously arranged in two rings, three 

 being inside and three outside. Inside these 

 come six bodies, each consisting of a stalk 

 with a swollen portion at the end. These are 

 the xtaiiH'ua, the end portion of each of which 

 is full of a yellow powder, the pollen, which, 

 when the stamens are ripe and open, is expos- 

 ed. In the midst of the stamens is another 

 body, which bears no pollen box at its 

 end. In some lilies it is divided into three 

 branches, in others it is not. By carefully 

 pulling off the petals the stamens come away 

 too, being joined to them, whilst this body 

 remain.- and is found to be connected to 



