THE FL WER — PER T I LIZ A TION AND POLLINA TION 1 5 I 



planted in a garden where prevailing winds occur, in which 

 direction would they better run ? 



Although most flowers are of such character as to insure 

 or increase the chances of cross-pollination, there are some 

 that absolutely forbid crossing. These flowers are usually 

 borne beneath or on the 

 ground, and they lack 

 showy colors and per- 

 fumes. They are known 

 as cleistogamous flowers 

 (meaning " hidden flow- 

 ers "). The plant has 

 normal showy flowers 

 that may be insect-pol- 

 linated, and in addition 

 is provided with these 

 simplified flowers. Only 

 a few plants bear cleis- 

 togamous flowers. Hog- 

 peanut, common blue 

 violet, fringed winter- 

 green, and dalibarda are Fi^^- 20s 

 the best subjects in the 

 Northern states. Fig. 

 205 shows a cleistoga- 

 mous flower of the blue 

 violet at a. Above the 

 true roots, slender stems bear these flowers, that are 

 provided with a calyx, and a curving corolla which does 

 not open. Inside are the stamens and pistils. Late in 

 the season the cleistogamous flowers may be found just 

 underneath the mold. They never rise above ground. 

 The following summer one may find a seedling plant, in 



Common Blue Violet. The 

 familiar flowers are shown, natural size. 

 The corolla is spurred. Late in the season, 

 cleistogamous flowers are often borne on 

 the surface of the ground. A small one is 

 shown at a. A nearly mature pod is shown 

 at t. Both a and b are one third natural 

 size. 



