38 THE BOOK OF NATURE STUDY 



corolla, stamens, and pistil. The calyx and corolla are pinkish 

 white. The five sepals are united together below to form a cup- 

 shaped calyx, and similarly the petals, which alternate with the 

 sepals, form a bell-shaped corolla. The five stamens alternate 

 with the petals, and are attached to the inner surface of the corolla. 

 From this surface, lower down and in the same vertical lines as 

 the stamens, spring five small scale-like teeth. These curve 

 inwards and cover the ovary, so that this is not seen on looking 

 into the flower. The attachment of the stamens and scales is 

 best seen if the corolla is removed and carefully slit up. The 

 pistil will be left on the receptacle, and be clearly seen to consist 

 of a globular reddish ovary, from the summit of which spring two 

 styles ending in the stigmas. In each of the 

 two cavities of the ovary are two ovules. 



Small as the flowers are, they secrete nec- 

 tar on the lower part of the ovary, and this 

 is hidden and protected by the scale-like 

 ingrowths from the corolla. Cross-pollination 

 may take place by the help of the small flies 

 FIG. 10. -Fruit of the that visit the flowers, or the latter may be 

 Hbtate rtT'Teeds! self-pollinated. The ovary develops into a 

 (After Baiiion.) small capsule, which opens when mature by 



a circular split near the base. The upper 

 portion comes off like a lid, and liberates the relatively large seeds 

 (Fig. 10). 



Each seed contains an embryo plant surrounded by food 

 material. On germination a small and imperfectly formed root 

 is sent down into the soil while the slender stem lengthens. The 

 seed-leaves never expand or turn green. The stem undergoes 

 circling movements, and should it come in contact with a suitable 

 host plant it twines round it and becomes attached at first by hair- 

 like outgrowths and later by haustoria. The further growth and 

 spread of the plant has been described above. 



The Mistletoe, in contrast to the Dodder, is only a partial 

 parasite. It grows attached to various kinds of trees, very 

 commonly to the Apple or Poplar. The general appearance of a 

 plant of the Mistletoe on the tree which serves as a host is well 

 shown in the plate. The photograph has been taken in winter, 



