POLLINATION AND SEED FORMING 213 



Where are the pistillate flowers of the corn? Find an ear 

 that is just forming, or at least a young ear. Pull off the 

 husks and notice the very small grains on the cob. Each 

 of these is an ovary. What is attached to each grain? 

 The silk is the style. Where is the stigma? This is at 

 the very tip end of the silk. If pollination takes place, 

 what is necessary? One grain of pollen must fall upon 

 the stigma of each silk. How is corn pollen scattered? 

 Is there much pollen produced ? What evidence have we 

 that the wind carries pollen long distances? Discuss at 

 this point what must happen in order that fertilization may 

 take place. The pollen grain must germinate on the 

 stigma and then the pollen tube must grow down through 

 the entire length of the style till it reaches the ovary where 

 the union of the two cells will occur. This, as you know, 

 is the beginning of a seed. Do you think that corn is 

 likely to be self pollinated or cross pollinated ? Why ? 



