FLOWERING PLANTS. 1 33 



The Pine Tree. 



In very early spring the pine trees in the neighborhood may 

 be observed with interest. The growing branches, the main axis 

 of each, the terminal bud and the small side branches containing 

 the young needle leaves may be made objects of observation. The 

 branches which become flowers may be noted. The one kind 

 furnishes an immense amount of pollen, the other constitutes the 

 young cones. In the one see just how the pollen grain is borne; 

 in the other, just where the ovules are located, that is just at the 

 base of the scales making up the cone. In the older cones, find 

 the seeds. These have developed from the fertilized ovules. The 

 ovules must receive the pollen grains before they can develop into 

 seeds. How does the pollen reach them ? The settling of this 

 question will bring out the advantage in producing such immense 

 quantities of pollen. It insures that the chance currents of wind 

 will carry the pollen to the young cones. 



The microscope will show the interesting form of the pollen 

 grains, and hew, b}' sort of minute wings, they are better carried 

 by the wind. Tlie yellow dust on the sidewalks or on little pools 

 after a wind-storm at this time of the year is pine pollen. The 

 microscope will prove this. 



Having seen how the pollen-producing flowers (staminate) 

 and the cones (pistilate) of the pines are arranged, the same organs 

 in the redwoods, cj'press, firs, cedars, and whatever cone-bearing 

 plants which may be in the region of the school, may be observed. 

 The parts of these organs are essentially the same, altho the size and 

 shape of the cones difl'er greatly. This, of course, gives an excellent 

 opportunity for an exercise in making comparisons and drawing 

 conclusions. 



The parts bearing the jjollen and the cones with the ovules 

 were referred to as flowers. While they are essentially flowers 

 they are not called "true flowers." This term is applied to those 

 flowers which have their ovules in a closed case as in the lupine 



