CHAPTER IX 



POLLINATION: OR HOW TO CROSS PLANTS 



POLLINATION is the act of conveying pollen from the 

 anther to the stigma. It is the manual part of the cross- 

 ing of plants. The word fertilization is often used in a 

 like sense, although erroneously; for it is the office of 

 the pollen, not of the operator, to fertilize or fecundate 



-that part of the flower 

 which is to develop 

 into a seed. 



The structure of the 

 flower. The chief re- 

 quirement in pollinat- 

 ing flowers is to know 

 the parts of the flower 

 itself. The conspicu- 

 ous or showy part of 

 the flower is the envelope, which is endlessly modified in size, 

 form, and color. This envelope covers the inner or essential 

 organs, and it also attracts insects, which often perform 

 the labor of pollination. This floral envelope is usually 

 of two series or parts, an outer and commonly green 

 series known as the calyx, and an inner and usually more 

 showy series known as the corolla. These two series are 

 well shown in the bellflower, Fig. 80. The calyx, with 



270 



FIG. 80. Bellflower. 



