The Golden Rod 



difference from the cornflower's method, where the 



stamen-heads contract instead of the ovary column 



growing.) Naturally, the pollen dust is swept before 



it and out on to the exposed surface of the flower, 



and there it lies. Through the hours of daylight 



hosts of insects — ^flies, wasps, bees of all sorts — pay 



visits ; all are equally welcome, for all help to spread 



the pollen over the individual blooms, and maybe 



carry it to adjacent blooms or even adjacent plants. 



It is only when the ovary column has grown up 



through the anthers that its brush-like tip divides 



and opens out a sensitive receptive surface for 



pollen dust. So it always needs an inner ring of 



florets to fertilise an outer one. This, then, explains 



why the outermost ring of rays has no stamens — 



there would be no work for them, since there is no 



ring outside them to open receptive surfaces and 



silently ask for pollen, and the plant is not going to 



risk the waste of much material on the off-chance 



that it might possibly be of advantage to florets 



on other blooms. 



189 



