Thistles and Nettles 339 
out at the top of the anther cylinder by the length- 
ening of the pistil. The pistil divides, at its tip, 
into two little arms, which are thickly clothed on 
their outsides with small pointed hairs. So, when 
the top of the pistil emerges from the anther-ring 
it is thickly covered, all over the outer surface, 
with pollen. In most instances this is soon re- | 
moved, for the points on the pollen-grains cling to 
the hairy bodies of visiting insects. A little later 
the tips of the pistil separate so as to expose the 
sticky or stigmatic surfaces, and in this position 
it waits, open-armed, for a pollen-freighted friend. 
But if no insects visit the flower the arms of the 
pistil curve over, as do those of the dandelion, and 
fertilize themselves with home-made pollen. How- 
ever, Canada thistles are rarely thus thrown upon 
their own resources, for they are immensely popu- 
lar and entertain guests from dawn till dusk. As 
soon as pollen has reached its stigma, or when it 
begins to wither, the blossom bends downward and 
outward. Having had its day and its opportuni- 
ty, it retires into the background to give a better 
chance to its younger sisters. The florets of the 
white clover (Fig. 95) have learned a like habit for 
the family good, and toward midsummer one may 
find a white-clover head with a single blossom 
