POPPY 23 



green ovary widens out from a relatively narrow base, and is capped 

 by the large flat stigma. This shows eight to twelve dark ridges 

 radiating out from a central point, and projecting slightly at the 

 edge. These ridges have a rough surface, and are the receptive 

 portions, the stigmatic surface itself. The spaces between the 

 radiating stigmatic lobes are pinkish. If the surface of the green 

 ovary is now looked at again it will be found to be marked by 

 faint ridges. These come between the rays of the stigma, and each 

 marks the position of one of the numerous carpels, which are 

 joined together to form the pistil. The stigmatic rays thus come 

 over the lines of j unction of the carpels. The ovary when cut across 

 will be found to have only one cavity, but beneath each stigmatic 

 ray, i.e. at the junctions of the carpels, a flat partition extends 



A B 



FIG. 6. Flower of the Red Poppy. A, entire ; B, cut in half lengthwise. 



(After Baillon.) 



inwards towards the centre, but does not reach it. The small 

 ovules are borne all over the surface of these inwardly projecting 

 plates, and an enormous number of them are present in the ovary. 

 As might be expected from its size and conspicuousness, the 

 flower of the Poppy is pollinated by insects. These come to collect 

 or feed off the abundant pollen, since no nectar is secreted by 

 the flower. In doing so they get their bodies dusted with pollen, 

 and going from flower to flower will effect cross-pollination. 

 The stamens begin to open while in the bud, and the stigma is 

 inevitably dusted with the flower's own pollen. Probably seeds 

 are produced as a result either of cross- or self-pollination. After 

 pollination the petals and stamens are shed, and the ovary alone 

 remains on the summit of the flower-stalk. It enlarges and 

 develops into the similarly shaped fruit (Fig. 7), which contains 

 the numerous small seeds developed from the ovules. The wall 



