146 MANUAI< OF NATURE STUDY. 



which are polypetalous and regular in form, there 

 are myriads of others that are gamopetalous and 

 irregular; also many that are irregular and 

 polypetalous. For instance the irregular conspic- 

 uous blossoms of the violet may serve as an irreg- 

 ular polypetalous flower. Have the pupils 

 supplied with a sufficient quantity for class exami- 

 nation. Notice first of all the arrangement of the 

 reproductive organs. See that the five short 

 stamens connive around the style. Is the position 

 of the stigma one that would be conducive to self- 

 fertilization ? Does the protruding stigma turn in 

 the right direction to receive the pollen to best 

 advantage ? Bxamine the pollen to see whether 

 it is sufficiently light and dry to be blown from 

 flower to adjacent flowers by the wind? Then 

 is it liable to be fertilized by the wind ? Is it a 

 flower that is often visited by bees, or other insects? 

 What inducement does it offer for the visitation of 

 bees? Look in the base of the petals for nectar 

 cups. Look into the spur. Does the beard in the 

 corolla assist the bee in any way while it is reach- 

 ing after the nectar? Watch the bees at their 

 work among the flowers and report what you ob- 

 serve. As the bee passes from violet to violet 

 could- it carry the pollen from the one to the stig- 

 ma of another? How? Here it will be well for 

 the teacher to turn aside from the study of flowers 



