THE STUDY OF TYPICAL PLOWEES. 139 



1 73. The Flower of the Tulip, i — Make a diagram of a side view of the 

 well-opened flower, as it appears when standing in sunlight. Observe that 

 there are three outer flower leaves and three inner ones.^ Label the outer 

 set sepals and the inner set petals. In most flowers the parts of the outer 

 set are greenish, and those of the inner set of some other color. In oases 

 like the present, where the coloration is the same throughout, the name 

 perianth, meaning around the flower, is applied to the two sets taken 

 together. Note the white waxy bloom on the outer surface of the three 

 outer segments of the perianth. AVhat is the use of this ? Note the man- 

 ner in which the three inner segments of the perianth arise from the top 

 of the peduncle, just above and alternating with the points of attachment 

 of the three outer segments. In a flower not too widely opened, note the 

 relative position of the three inner segments of the perianth, one wholly 

 outside the other two, one wholly inside, the third with one edge in and 

 one edge out. 



Eemove one of the sepals by cutting it off close to its attachment to 

 the peduncle, and examine the veining by holding it up in a strong light 

 and looking through it. Make a sketch to show the general outline and 

 the shape of the tip. 



Examine a petal in the same way, and sketch it. 



Cut off the remaining portions of the perianth, leaving about a quarter 

 of an inch at the base of each segment. Sketch the upright, triangular, 

 pillar-like object in the centre, label it pistil, sketch the six organs which 

 spring from around its base, and label these stamens. 



Note the fact that each stamen arises from a point just above and 

 within the base of a segment of the perianth. Each stamen consists of a 

 somewhat conical or awl-shaped portion below, the filament, surmounted 

 by an ovate linear portion, the anther. Sketch one of the stamens about 

 twice natural size. Is the attachment of the anther to the filament such 

 as to admit of any nodding or twisting movement of the former ? In a 

 young flower, note the two tubular pouches or anther-cells of which the 

 anther is composed, and the slits by which these open. Observe the 

 dark-colored pollen which escapes from the anther-cells and adheres to 

 paper or to the fingers. Examine a newly opened anther with the micro- 

 scope, using the two-inch objective, and sketch it. 



Cut away all the stamens and note the two portions of the pistil, a 

 triangular prism, the ovary, and three roughened scroll-like objects at the 



^ Tulipa Gesneriana. As the flowers are rather expensive, and their parts are 

 large and firm, it is not absolutely necessary to give a flower to each pupil, but some 

 may be kept entire for sketching and others dissected by the class. All the flowers 

 must be single, * Best seen in a flower which is just opening. 



