52 2 Handbook of Nature-Study 



Method — Begin the study just as the mandrakes are thrusting theii 

 heads up through the soil in April, and continue the work at intervals 

 until the fruit is ripe. 



Observations — i. How do the mandrakes look when they first appear 

 above the ground? How are the little umbrellas folded in their cases? 

 What do the cases look like? How can you tell from the first, the plants 

 which are to bear the flowers and fruit? 



2. Study a patch of mandrakes, and see how many varieties of 

 parasols you can find? Do they all have the same number of main ribs 

 and lobes? How many lobes do most of them have? Are there more 

 single or double parasols in the patch? 



3. Take a single plant and study it carefully. What sort of stem has 

 it? Can you find at its base the old umbrella case? How high is the 

 stem? What is its color at the bottom and at the top? How many ribs 

 does it divide into at the top? Are these ribs as smooth as the stem? 

 How does the parasol lining differ from its outside in color and feeling? 



4. Study the parasol lobes. What is their general shape? Are they 

 all notched at the wide end? How close to the stem does the division 

 between them extend? Do you not think they are better fitted for keep- 

 ing ofi^ the sun than the rain ? 



5. Take one of the double parasols. Where is the flower bud to be 

 found ? How is it protected from the sun ? Does the stem divide equally 

 on each side of it or is one part larger than the other? Are the twin 

 parasols of the same size? How many lobes has each? What are the 

 chief differences in shape between one of these twin parasols and one of 

 the parasols which has no flower bud? 



6. How does the flower bud look? Does it droop because its stem is 

 weak? What happens to the green hood or sepals when the flower opens? 

 Can you find six sepals in the hood? 



7. Does the open flower bow downward? As the flower opens, what 

 is the shape of the group of stamens at the center? Are there the same 

 number of white, waxy petals in all the flowers? Are there always about 

 twice as many stamens as petals? How do the anthers open to shed the 

 pollen? Do they let the pollen fall away from the ruflSed stigma of the 

 "fat" little seed bo.x at the center of the flower? 



8. Does the flower have a strong odor? Does not the plant itself 

 give off this odor? Do you think it is pleasant? Do the cattle eat the 

 mandrake when it is in pastures? 



9. What insects do you find visiting the mandrake flowers? 



10. Do you like the May apple? When is it ripe? Cut a fruit across 

 and see how the seeds are arranged. 



11. Where are mandrakes found? Do they always grow in patches? 

 Dig up a few plants and find why this is so? 



12. Describe the underground stem. Can you find where the last 

 year's plant grew? How are the roots arranged upon the stem? Can you 

 see places which will produce the stem for next year's growth? How does 

 the underground stem differ in appearance from the true roots? Why 

 must we not taste of the mandrake root? 



13. In late July, visit the mandrake patch again. Are there any 

 umbrellas now? What is left of the plants? Look at the underground 

 stems again and see if there are new growths, and if they are larger and 

 stored with food for next year's plants. 



