140 NATURE TEACHING. 



portion, the ovary (containing the ovules), and 

 an upper portion which may be long or short 

 and often ends in more or less hairy or sticky 

 branches the stigmas. 



6. The lily, hibiscus, periwinkle, have all 

 these parts contained in one and the same 

 flower. They are examples of perfect or com- 

 plete flowers. The pumpkin flower, on the 

 other hand, is different. If a pumpkin vine is 

 carefully looked over, two kinds of flowers 

 may be distinguished even whilst in the bud 

 stage. Both, when open, are large and have 

 a yellow cup of petals. The centre of one 

 is occupied by a yellow column which is 

 covered with pollen. The other kind of flow- 

 er has its centre taken up with a large, lobed, 

 brown body, the stigma, sticky and covered 

 with short hair ; and beneath the yellow petals 

 is a swollen portion (obviously a very young 

 pumpkin), the ovary. We have, in fact, here 

 stamens and pistil in separate flowers, which 

 are respectively described as staminate and 

 pistillate. 



USES OF THE PARTS OF A FLOWER. 



1. Plants, such as the pumpkin, in which 

 the stamens and pistils are in separate flowers, 

 are very convenient to employ in endeavouring 



