328 



NATURE-STUDY 



catkins of pines, or the drooping staminate flower clusters 

 of the boxelder or hard maple. If they are not quite ripe 

 place them in water for a few days. Then the anthers will 

 be open and the slightest jarring of the branches will shake 

 out great clouds of fine, yellow pollen which floats upon the 

 air. Make a study in a general way of these plants, noting 



Fig. 127. Development of Sweet Pea Flower into Fruit. 



the way pollination is brought about. As a rule these flow- 

 ers are not pretty, yet very interesting on close examination. 

 The study of the details of structure of these flowers may be de- 

 ferred to higher grades. But here the fact should be rec- 

 ognized that these pecuhar flower clusters produce an abun- 

 dance of very light and dry pollen which the wind can shake 

 out and carry away. Note also the large and often hairy 

 stigmas of the pistil, and see how well they are adapted for 

 catching the pollen as it drifts by. 



