Wild Flowers as They Grow 



are three large drooping yellow petal-like sepals with 

 brownish mottled markings on their upper surfaces. 

 Alternating with these are three erect much smaller 

 and less petal-like petals, and inside these again are 

 three more yellow very petal-like objects ending in a 

 double lobe, so that there are three times three of 

 gay floral leaves. There are apparently no stamens. 

 Now the innermost trinity are really the stigmas, and 

 they are far and away the most striking illustration 

 we know of stigmas that resemble petals. In this 

 flower it seems as though anything were more Uke 

 a petal than the actual petals themselves. The 

 stigmas arch gracefully over, and if we look under 

 the curve of each we find the missing stamens. 

 Each — there are only three altogether — ^is united 

 at its base to the corresponding sepal, but 

 its flattened stalk curves outwards in conformity 

 with the curving arch above it. In no other flower 

 does the stigma form such a rain-protecting roof 

 for the poUen, Just beyond the top of the stamen 

 is a little shelf on the under side of the stigma, and 



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