INTRODUCTION 
197 
the slender parts inside the petals; (4) pistil, the central part of the 
flower; (5) spur, the projection on one of the sepals; (6) peduncle, the 
flower stalk. 
How many sepals are there ? Are they all the same size and shape ? 
How many petals are there? Are they all the same size and shape? 
Have they all furrows, or streaks of color leading to the base of the 
flower? If not, which ones have one or the other? Which ones have 
a hairy fringe on the inside ? Do the hairs all point in the same direc¬ 
tion? Open the end of the spur and taste the liquid. Describe the 
taste. 
How many stamens are there? Draw one and label (1) filament, 
the slender, stalk-like part; (2) anther, the enlarged top which contains 
yellow, dust-like particles, the pollen. If possible, examine pollen 
grains with a microscope. Describe them. 
Draw the pistil. Label (1) stigma, the top portion; (2) style, the 
slender part below the stigma; (3) ovary, the enlarged base. Examine 
the stigma with a hand lens. Does it appear sticky? Can you see 
pollen grains on it? Cut across the ovary. How many chambers 
has it? How many ovules (small, white bodies) are in each chamber? 
Draw and label. 
Examine a nasturtium blossom that has stood in water till it has 
withered. What parts of the flower have dried up? Which ones 
have fallen off ? What parts remain ? What changes have taken place 
in those that are left ? 
SUGGESTIONS FOR HOME WORK 
Compare any blossoms you have at home with the nasturtium 
(geranium is a good one). Do you see any indications of irregularity 
in the geranium ? of a spur ? of colors or furrows on the petals ? Ex¬ 
amine other flowers in the same way — apple, violet, lilac, chickweed, 
etc. Make notes and sketches of # what you find out for yourself, and 
of questions that occur to you. 
In comparing the flower with the remarks about it in 
section 183, you will note that different parts of the flower 
have special names. Furthermore, you will find that many 
other flowers have all or some of the same parts. In order 
to talk about them intelligently, therefore, it will be necessary 
to know more about the parts of flowers, their names and 
their relations to one another. 
