164 THE BEHAVIOUR OF PLANTS 
The bees drag the pollen from the open florets where 
the pistil is closed to the open pistils. Since the pistils 
and stamens of each floret do 
not ripen at the same time, the 
pollen from one floret must go 

to the pistil of another floret, 
and cannot get to its own. 
This is a good thing for the 
plant, for it makes the new life 
in the seed more vigorous. 
This taking of the pollen from 
one flower to another is cross 
pollination. Hi 
you study the 
behaviour of 
flowers in this 
respect, you 
will find that 
insects visit a 

great many 
different kinds 
and cross pol- 
linate them. Fig. 202. Pistillate cat- 
If ® kins of willow. 
you find a daisy, golden-rod, dan- 
delion, or coltsfoot, read it to see how it compares with 
the sunflower. 
Fig. 201. Willow with staminate 
catkins, 

