48 A USTRAL1AN B TANK 



producing plant of its species existed in Europe* To explain 

 the last sentence, it may again be stated that though the 

 native and true Fuchsias, shown in Plates IV. and V., 

 PP- 3^5 37, have both stamens and pistil, many plants have 

 tamens without pistil, or vice versa. It is therefore necessary 

 for the pollen from the stamen-bearing plant to find its way 

 to a kindred plant bearing a pistil, and lodge on the stigma 

 of that pistil, before fertilization can take place. In this 

 manner gardeners produce hybrids or varieties, by fertilizing 

 the pistil of one plant with the pollen of another. It 

 must be clearly understood, however, that plants will only 

 fertilize others of their own kind. The pollen from one 

 variety of Fuchsia will fertilize another kind of Fuchsia ; 

 but the pollen from a Geranium will not fertilize a Fuchsia, 

 nor vice versa. Neither will the pollen of a Correa 

 {Australian or native Fuchsia) fertilize a true Fuchsia, 

 since they belong to distinct orders. 



When the pollen reaches the stigma of a similar plant it 

 begins to develop a minute fibre, which gradually makes its 

 way down the tube of the pistil into the ovary, where the 

 ovules or future seeds are deposited. Coming in contact 

 with an ovule or ovules, this fibre enters the micropyle (fig. 

 A, p. 5) and fertilizes the ovule. Then the ovule swells 

 until it becomes a perfect seed. As the fruit approaches 

 maturity the funiculus or cord becomes plainer, showing the 

 mode by which the seed is connected with the placenta. 



Thus the flower accomplishes its mission changing into a 

 seed-vessel or fruit. Generally speaking, soon after the 

 stigma is fertilized, the calyx, corolla, and stamens drop off. 

 Their work is done ; and the flozver dies, giving place to 

 the seed-vessel. In some plants the calyx or the corolla may 



