228 THE APPLE TREE. 



THE FLOWER. 



An earlier description, that ot the hawthorn, served to show how 

 greatly the appearance ot the tiower-lieads ot similar character depend 

 for variety on the length and number of the stamens borne by the 

 single floret. In other types ot flowers, where the stamens show less 

 tendency to vary, the flower-clusters owe their distinctive appearance 

 to the comparative opaqueness or transparency of the petals. The 

 petal of the Apple-blossom is so transparent that not only the shell- 

 pink tints ot the under-side, but even the green of a leat on which 

 it may be resting show through the delicate whiteness ot the upper 

 surface, which has a velvety texture. 



The flower-buds are cup-shaped, the petals being curved inwards 

 and overlapping at the points and sides. The bases ot the petals 

 taper to a fine point, so that when they are fully opened there is 

 an oval space between them towards the centre of the flower, 

 through which the pale green sepals are visible. The sepals are bent 

 back towards the stalk, and each one has a dull purple tip. Like 

 the flower-stalk and the young leaf-stalks, the calyx is covered with 

 silky hairs. 



The stamens are of the palest green, scarcely distinguishable from 

 white, and tipped with yellow of the tint of ochre. The pistil is 

 also pale green and split into five segments (styles) nearly down to 

 the base. Every floret has its own stalk, and the stalks are all of 

 equal length, and grow several together in a cluster from the same 

 point on a twig. 



After the pollen from the stamens has lieen carried to the pistil 

 by the bees, and the ovary at its l:)ase is thus tcrtih'zcti, the petals 

 and stamens tall off, and there remain only the sepals and the ovary, 

 which is enclosed in and fused with the floral receptacle. The 



