THE FLOWER cae 
CHAPTER 
THE FLOWER 
Flower of HE structure of the flower is best studied first in 
Gymno- the Scotch Fir (Pinus), a Gymnosperm, for the con- 
sperms. ditions are simpler than in Angiosperms. Plate IV. 
shows the staminate and carpellary cones, which occur on the 
same tree but on different branches. Fig. 45 is a drawing of 
the branch bearing the staminate cones. It will be seen that 
the uppermost leaves of the branch are ordinary foliage leaves, 
needle-shaped, and occurring two together on dwarf shoots, 
which are spirally arranged. The cones are also arranged 
spirally at the base of the present year’s shoot. Each staminate 
_ flower or cone consists of numerous stamens, arranged spirally 
on a short central axis. The quantity of pollen formed 1s 
considerable, as is easily seen in June by shaking the tree, when 
clouds of yellow dust will fall. Pollination is effected by the 
wind. | : 
Fig. 46 shows the carpellary flowers, consisting of sessile, 
conical cones. In the figure, cones of three different ages are 
Tepresented ; these may also be seen in the month of June. 
They are: 
I. Small reddish cones at the apex of the shoot of the 
current year. 
2. Green succulent cones near the apex of the shoot of the 
previous year. 
3. Brown woody cones near the apex of the two-year-old 
shoot. 
Each cone consists of thick scales arranged spirally on a 
short thick axis. In the youngest cones the scales are not 
tightly pressed together, and allow of the pollen falling 
between, for pollination takes place in the first year. The 
