THE WORK OF FLOWERS 



109 



containing the cavities in which the seeds will form, is 

 the ovary; and the connecting portion, or stem, is the 

 style. 



Let us turn now to the other class of flowers before us. 



We must look upon each head of these monocotyledons, 

 not as a single flower, but as a mass of flowers arranged 

 in groups of two along a central axis. That is, we find two 

 flowers together against this axis, 

 then, a little higher and on the 

 opposite side of it, we find two 

 more, and so on. 



Study each group now a little 

 more closely. You find no se- 

 pals. Instead, you find at the 

 base of each group two stiff, 

 husk-like organs which are called 

 glumes. Above these glumes are 

 the two flowers. 



At the base of each of these 

 flowers are two thin, husk-like 

 organs, one of which is smaller 

 and thinner than the other and 

 partly inclosed by it. The large 

 one is called the flowering glume, 

 the smaller one, the palea. Inclosed by these two are 

 three stamens, while at the center is a rounded ovary, from 

 which rise two long, feathery stigmas. 



Compare now, part by part, these flowers with those of 

 the dicotyledons already studied. Point out and name 

 all parts of each flower. 



If you can do this, you may take pride as well as pleasure 

 in the achievement. It is from flowers like these that all 

 grains, fruits, and seeds are produced. Very many people 

 are content to become familiar with only the flowers of the 



FiQ. 35. — Parts of a monocot^ 

 yledonous flower. 



a, glumes ; 6, flowering 

 glumes ; c, paleas ; d, stamens * 

 €, stigmas. 



