INTRODUCTORY 



269 



germination of a spore. This 

 second kind of spore never es- 

 caped from its parent, but it was 

 a spore none the less. It re- 

 mained within at the very point 

 where it was produced, instead 

 of being shed as pollen is shed. 

 The new individual or genera- 

 tion into which this second kind 

 of spore grew also remains with- 

 in, never escaping from the tis- 

 sues of its parent. It derives 

 its nourishment from the tissues 

 of its parent, somewhat as em- 

 bryos derive their nourishment 

 from the tissues which surround 

 them in the seed. It is, none 

 the less, an individual distinct 

 from its parent except for its 

 position ; it is a different genera- 

 tion from its parent. 



It is these two individuals 

 which have just been described 

 which produce those cells whose 

 union is the sex process. Neither 

 of them may be properly called 

 parts of the flower, though both 

 develop within the tissues of the 

 flower. 



Thus we see why the flower 

 should not be called a sex organ. 

 Though very much concerned 



Fig. 95. — Diagram illustrating the 

 way in which pollen tubes grow 

 down into the center of the 

 flower and reach the "hidden 

 generation" which grows there. 

 See context, and page 276. 



