Tree Study 



805 



but this attractive outside covers a seed with a very thick, hard shell, 

 which is quite indigestible and fully able to protect, even from the attack of 

 the digestive juices of the bird's stomach, the tender white kernel within it, 

 which includes the stored food and the embryo. There are in the North 

 two other common species of dogwood which have dark blue fruit. 



LESSON CCV 

 The Dogwood 



Leading thought — The petals are not the only means of attracting insects 

 to the flowers. Sometimes other parts of the plant are made into banners 

 to show insects where the nectar is to be found. 



Method — Bring in a branch of the dogwood when it is in flower. The 

 branch should have upon it some flowers that are unopened. Study the 

 flower first, and ask the 

 pupils to discover for 

 themselves why the 

 great white bracts have 

 a notch in the tip. A 

 lens is a great help to 

 the interest in studying 

 these tiny flowers. 



Observation s — i . 

 What is there at the 

 center of the dogwood 

 flower? How do the 

 parts at the center look ? 

 Are they of the same 

 shape ? Are some 

 opened and others not? 

 Take a penknife and 

 cut out one that is 

 opened and describe it. 

 Can you see how many 

 petals this tiny flowei 

 has? Describe its 



calyx. How many sta- 

 mens has it ? Can you 

 see the pistil ? If a flower has a calyx and stamens and a pistil, has it not all 

 that a flower needs? 



2. How many of these flowers are there at the center of the dogwood 

 "blossom?" What color are they? Would they show off much if it were 

 not for the great white banners around them ? Do we not think of these 

 great white bracts as the dogwood flower ? 



3 . Study one of these banners. What is its shape ? Are the four white 

 bracts the same shape and size? Make a sketch of these four bracts with 

 the bunch of flowers at the center. What is there peculiar about each one 

 of these white bracts. Why should this notch be there? Find one of the 

 flower-heads which is not yet opened and watch it develop, and then write 

 a little story of the work done in the winter for the flowers by these bracts 

 and the different work done by them in the spring, all for the sake of the 

 precious blossoms. 



The flower buds of the dogwood are formed during 

 the previous season. 



