224 
THE FLORIST AND P0M0L0GIST. 
Fig. 2.—Spikelet of the Oat magnified. 
Before removing the smaller of the scales, you ought to observe the small 
body on a slender stalk {fig. 2, fs). This is an undeveloped flower, of which 
we shall speak in a future lesson. 
Let us now turn our attention to a 
very different kind of flower to any we 
have yet had to deal with. It is that 
of the Pine (Pinus sylvestris), or Scotch 
Fir. Here, as in the Oak, the stamens 
and pistil are on the same tree, but in 
separate flowers. We shall study in a 
future lesson the structure and develop¬ 
ment of the female flower. For the 
present we may state that they are of 
a vinous red colour when young, and 
form a small conical head composed of 
numerous scales. These scales cover 
each other like the tiles of a house; 
and when young they are distant from 
each other, but as they increase in size 
they become enlarged at the superior 
extremities, with a small point in the 
centre of the en¬ 
largement. 
As to the stamens, the duration of which is very short, 
they are in a dense mass, and abound in pollen. To study 
them properly it is necessary first to shake 
the branch on which they grow, and the 
dust will escape from them in clouds. You 
will then see a sort of dense spike, com¬ 
posed of yellow heads, which are placed 
immediately on the branch that bears them. 
Each head contains about a score of anthers 
{fig. 4), which, when examined by the aid 
of a magnifying glass, after detaching one 
of them with your penknife, you will see it 
contains a double cell, opening as in most of the flowers 
have examined. This cell is fixed by its back to the 
scale. 
Each head is furnished at its base with 
three transparent and united scales; outside 
of this is another, thick, short, and concave. 
Besides, the base of the cluster is furnished 
with numerous brown scales, which enclose 
it before it is developed. At the extremity 
of this cluster you see small shoots, covered 
with yellowish scales, which later become 
leaves. 
In the flowers of the Pine, as in those of 
the Oat, you have not found any regular 
circular envelope; the stamens and the 
pistil being protected only by scales. 
As our last study take the Cuckoo-pint (Arum macu- 
latuin). Plere there are no circular envelopes, neither 
interior nor exterior; not even scales to protect the organs of reproduction. 
5T 
Fig. 3.—Stamens 
and pistil of 
the Oat. 
we 
Fig. 4.— Anther 
of the Pine 
magnified. 
Fig. 5.—Flower of Arum, 
showing the reproduc¬ 
tive organs. 
