64 REPRESENTATIVE PLANTS 



to be practiced by every one owning a fruit garden or 

 orchard ? 



12. Flowers of the Pea Family (Irregular Poly- 



PETALOUS Forms) — Peas, Clovers, Sweet 



Clovers, Lupines, Locusts 



General statement. The Pea family is an immense one 

 (7000 species), and many kinds may be found in your vicin- 

 ity, but only a few bloom before the middle of June. Read 

 the family characterization and keep it in mind while 

 studying the flowers obtainable. 



Flowers. Observe the form of the inflorescence and the 

 size, color, and odor of the flowers. Examine the flower 

 parts for number and for relationship to each other and to 

 the receptacle. In particular, compare the petals to each 

 other as to shape. What do you find ? Flowers in which 

 the parts of the same whorl are unlike in shape are irregu- 

 lar. Observe that all the kinds you have access to are 

 similar in general form to a pea flower. The different parts 

 have received special names. The large upper petal is 

 the banner, the side petals are tvings, and the two united 

 lower petals are the keel. 



Carefully examine the stamens, count them, and find out 

 how they are connected to each other. 



Look up the terms monadelphous and cUadelphous. Where 

 are the stamens situated? Look for the pistil. How is it 

 related to the stamens ? Are anthers and stigma in such 

 relative position as to permit pollen to pass readily to the 

 stigma? In fruit, what does the pistil become? 



Carefully draw plan of inflorescence and of a single 

 flower, also side and face views of flower and each kind of 

 petal, enlarged. 



Pollination. Flowers constructed according to the pea 

 type are especially adapted to pollination by insects. The 

 color, odor, and inflorescence, as well as the peculiar shape 



