138 NATURE TEACHING. 



swollen portion at the base of the flower. 

 This swollen portion is the oxary, and when 

 cut through lengthwise shows tw r o rows of 

 small white bodies, the future seeds. The ovary, 

 together with the upper portion, are conveni- 

 ently included in the single word pistil. 



3. A hibiscus flower, compared with a 

 lily, shows very similar parts arranged in a 

 very similar manner. Thus, commencing in the 

 centre of the flower, we find a pistil, branching 

 into five red velvety arms at the top and lead- 

 ing down to the ovary ; stamens consisting of 

 stalks, and knobs full of pollen ; then a ring of 

 large red petals, and outside these two rings 

 of green leafy bodies. Overlooking for the 

 time all their differences, you find the two 

 flowers agree in having a pistil, stamens con- 

 taining pollen, and petals. 



4. In the lily it will be noticed that the 

 parts of the flower are arranged in threes or 

 sixes. There are six petals, in two rings of 

 three each ; six stamens ; the ovary if we 

 cut it across is divided into three, and the 

 stalk coming from it has three branches at its 

 end. In the hibiscus the parts are in fives, 

 (except the stamens which are very numerous). 

 This number of the parts of a flower is an ad- 

 ditional character which serves to distinguish 



