THE GARDEN PRIMER 



pistils — may easily pass unnoticed by a casual ob- 

 server, although the former are distinctly decorative 

 in many flowers — the rose, for example, in its single 

 varieties. The yellow stamens are sometimes so nu- 

 merous in these that they give an exquisite, soft golden 

 glow at the heart of the flower which greatly enhances 

 its beauty. 



Stamens bear pollen or fertilizing dust, while pis- 

 tils are fitted to receive this dust and to develop, by 

 means of it, into the seed, or the fruit which bears the 

 seed at its heart. All plants therefore which produce, 

 in any form, these two essential organs, produce flowers, 

 although they may not commonly be regarded as 

 flowering plants. We say, for example, of the oak that 

 it does not blossom; but it does, else it would not bear 

 fruits — that is, acorns. And we gather pussy-willows 

 without realizing that they are flowers, but they are — 

 and very interesting flowers too, for there are two dis- 

 tinct kinds and they are borne on separate trees, the 

 staminate or male on one tree, the pistillate or female 

 on another. 



This brings us to a phase of flower form which is 

 one of the most important things for a gardener to under- 

 stand; namely, their deviation from the type, or perfect, 

 flower. A perfect flower is complete in itself, hence its 

 classification as perfect. It is hermaphrodite or bi- 

 sexual — double sexed — ha\dng both stamens and pistils, 

 or pistil (sometimes there is only one of the latter). 

 The natural, single rose is an example of a perfect 

 flower. 



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