158 FIELD CROPS FOR THE COTTON-BELT 



from 10,000 to 20,000 pollen grains. This excess of pollen 

 grains is essential because of the relatively small number 

 that really come in contact with the silks. 



199. The pistillate flowers are produced on a modified 

 branch coming from the axil of a leaf on the main stem. 

 This branch is merely a succession of nodes and at its 

 terminus is borne a hard spike (the cob) on which the 

 pistillate flowers develop in even numbered rows. Each 

 spikelet on the spike or cob produces two flowers, one of 

 which is abortive. The other flower develops normally 

 and is composed of (1) a flowering glume and palea, (2) 

 an ovary, (3) a long, hairy style known as the silk, and 



(4) the stigma or that part 

 of the silk that receives the 

 pollen. The outer end of 

 the silk is often split and 

 besides possessing a cover- 

 ing of small hairs, secretes a 

 mucilaginous substance 

 which aids in collecting 

 pollen. There is but one 

 style for each ovary. 



The spike and pistillate 

 flowers are closely covered 

 and protected by the .modi- 

 fied leaves borne at the 

 nodes on the ear-shank. 

 FIG. 22. Ear of com showing ten- These leaves are spoken of 



dency to laminate. . . , __.. 



as the husk. The process 



of fertilization is discussed in the chapter on the physiology 

 of the corn plant. 



200. The ear. The ear is borne upon a branch (ear- 

 shank) which has been shortened so as to bring the nodes 



