CHAPTER III 



MALE AND FEMALE 



The phenomena of heredity, in all the higher 

 plants and animals, are so closely linked with 

 the process of sexual reproduction that it wiU 

 be well to review here the simple and familiar 

 phases of this process. 



Recall the parts of any familiar flower, or, 

 better stfll, re-examine some one that is at hand, 

 such as the May apple, cherry, or garden pea. 

 The May apple or mandrake flower is a large 

 creamy bloom (Fig. i) with from six to nine 

 conspicuous white leaflike parts, the petals, 

 that in the bud protect the more essential 

 inner organs. Outside of these petals are 

 three greenish sepals, also leaflike and pro- 

 tective. The essential organs at the center 

 of the blossom are the stamens and the pistil. 

 The latter is quite large, is green and shaped 

 like a tenpin or Indian club, with a very 

 short neck. The stamens each consist of a 



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