CHAPTER VII 

 REPRODUCTION IN PLANTS 



I. THE STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONS OF FLOWERS 



83. Necessity of plant reproduction. Every one knows 

 that plants like peas, beans, and corn live but one year. 

 Shrubs and trees, while they often live for many years, finally 

 die. This is true of all plants. It is evident, therefore, that 

 unless there were some means of producing new plants to 

 take the place of those now living, all forms of plant life 

 would soon cease to exist. The process by which new plants 

 are formed is known as reproduction. In the higher plants 

 this process is carried on by flowers, the function of which is 

 to produce seeds which will develop into new plants. We are 

 now to study the various parts of flowers and to consider the 

 work of each part in this process of reproduction. 



84. Study of tulip flower (spring study). Laboratory 

 Study No. 41. 



Material: While the trill ium is a more satisfactory flower for 

 beginning the study of the process of reproduction, the danger 

 that the wild flowers will become exterminated seems to make the 

 study of the tulip advisable, especially in large city high schools. 

 The two flowers, however, are usually in season at the same time, 

 and if possible at least a few of the trilliums should be secured for 

 demonstration. If this is impossible, the distinction between calyx 

 and corolla should be taught from the apple blossom or other com- 

 mon flower. 



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