146 
MANUAL, OF NATURE STUDY. 
which are polypetalous and regular in form, there 
are myriads of others that are gamopetalous and 
irregular; also many that are irregular and 
polypetalous. For instance the irregular conspic¬ 
uous blossoms of the violet may serve as an irreg¬ 
ular polypetalous flower. Have the pupils 
supplied with a sufficient quantity for class exami¬ 
nation. Notice first of all the arrangement of the 
reproductive organs. See that the five short 
stamens connive around the style. Is the position 
of the stigma one that would be conducive to self- 
fertilization ? Does the protruding stigma turn in 
the right direction to receive the pollen to best 
advantage ? Examine the pollen to see whether 
it is sufficiently light and dry to be blown from 
flower to adjacent flowers by the wind? Then 
is it liable to be fertilized by the wind ? Is it a 
flower that is often visited by bees, or other insects? 
What inducement does it offer for the visitation of 
bees? Look in the base of the petals for nectar 
cups. Look into the spur. Does the beard in the 
corolla assist the bee in any way while it is reach¬ 
ing after the nectar? Watch the bees at their 
work among the flowers and report what you ob¬ 
serve. As the bee passes from violet to violet 
could it carry the pollen from the one to the stig¬ 
ma of another? How? Here it will be well for 
the teacher to turn aside from the study of flowers 
