252 BEES AND BEE-KEEPING. 



are called stamens, are absolutely necessary to secure 

 the reproduction of the plant. The anther is a double 

 bag, or, as in this instance, a pair of such, containing 

 a quantity of tiny granules (pollen), which, in reality, 

 are individually highly organised parts, capable, as 

 already hinted, of bringing about the wondrous pro- 

 cess of fertilisation. Lastly, within the space lying 

 between the encircling stamens, and occupying always 

 the centre of the flower, lie the female reproductive 

 organs (s, C), collectively denominated the pistil. 

 This assumes very diverse characters in different 

 blossoms; but here, as in all the more perfect forms, 

 it consists of three parts, the bottom one being a 

 pouched cavity (0, B), or hollow receptacle, called 

 the ovary, because it contains one or many minute 

 egg-like bodies (the ovules), each inclosing a germ 

 cell awaiting impregnation. Rising from the apex 

 of the ovary is a stalk-like part (the style), seen 

 beneath s, C, and surmounted at its summit by a body 

 of peculiar structure, called the stigma, which, at a 

 certain point in its development, becomes capable 

 of receiving the pollen granules— really the homo- 

 logues of the sperm cells of the drone (page 

 216). The flower, as such, in all cases is a means, 

 not an end, and, as the latter is accomplished, it 

 disappears. The corolla, having caught the insect's 

 eye, dries ; the stamens, having yielded their sperm, 

 wither. The stigma and the style, having performed 

 their office, dry and shrivel, and nothing is left 

 except the ovary, which is, in some cases, surrounded 

 by a persistent calyx. The ovary now grows and 

 develops into what is called the seed vessel, but 



