EARLY SUMMER FLOWERS 169 



of which contribute to the colour of the flower, while in the centre 

 we find the hemispherical group of carpels. The carpels, like 

 those of the Buttercup, are quite separate from one another. 

 They are inserted on the globular end of the receptacle, and can be 

 removed singly from this. If this is done and a carpel is examined 

 with the lens, the small oval ovary will be seen. Springing not 

 from the summit but from the side of this is the slender style 

 which ends in the small stigma. The ovary contains a single 

 ovule. 



If another flower is cut in half with a sharp knife (Fig. 80, B) 

 the sepals, petals, stamens, and carpels will be seen in their relative 

 positions on the receptacle of the flower. In this a difference 

 will be found from the Buttercup, with the flower of which that 

 of the Strawberry may in many respects be compared. In the 

 Strawberry the receptacle is widened just below the hemispherical 

 end which bears the carpels, and the sepals, petals, and stamens 

 all stand on this expansion. 



The flowers of the Wild Strawberry, though not of large size, are 

 conspicuous by reason of the expanded white corolla and the 

 yellow centre formed by the stamens and carpels. They are 

 visited by flies and bees in search of the nectar that is secreted by 

 a region of the receptacle between the lowest carpels and the 

 innermost stamens. The shallow, expanded shape of the flower 

 allows the honey to be obtained by quite short-tongued insects. 

 These alight on the petals, and on bending their heads inwards 

 to reach the nectary will bring them in contact with the pollen 

 shed from the open anthers and with the stigmas. On an insect, 

 thus dusted with pollen, visiting a second flower it may carry 

 pollen to the stigmas of the latter and so cross-pollinate it. This 

 is a more likely result than self-pollination, for the stigmas ripen 

 before the pollen of the flower is shed and are usually pollinated 

 or have ceased to be receptive before the anthers open. 



The fruit (Fig. 81) develops from the flower as a result of 

 pollination. The petals fall off early, but the calyx and the 

 withered remains of the stamens can be found at the base even 

 of the ripe fruit. The fruit itself is almost entirely developed 

 from the receptacle upon which the carpels were closely crowded. 

 This enlarges and ultimately becomes succulent, while the colour 



