THE BLOSSOM 147 



it does have a superb corolla formed of six petals 

 gracefully curved inward at the edges, and whiter 

 than ivory. I take away these six petals. What is 

 left now is the essential part ; that is to say, the thing 

 without which the flower could not perform its func- 

 tion, could not, in short, bear fruit or seed. Let us 

 carefully consider this remaining part. You will 

 find it well worth the trouble. 



"First there are six filaments or little white rods, 

 each one surmounted by a tiny bag full of yellow 

 powder. These six pieces are called stamens. They 

 are found in all flowers in greater or less number, 

 and in the lily there are six of them. The little bag 

 that tops the stamen is called an anther. The yellow 

 dust contained in the anther is called pollen ; that is 

 what daubs our nose when we smell the lily too 

 closely. 



"I take away the six stamens. There remains a 

 central body swollen at the bottom, narrowed at the 

 top to a long filament, and surmounted by a kind of 

 head wet with a sticky moisture. In its entirety this 

 central body bears the name of pistil; the swelling 

 at the bottom is called the ovary, the filament grow- 

 ing out of it is the style, and the sticky head termin- 

 ating this filament is known as the stigma. 



"What big names for such little things! you will 

 say. Little, yes; but of unrivaled importance. 

 These little things, my friends, give us our daily 

 bread; without the miraculous work of these little 

 things the world would come to an end. 



"With a penknife I cut the ovary in two horizon- 



