FIG. 76.—FLOWER OF A LILY.
Notice how the stigma and the anthers are kept as far as possible from each other to guard against self-pollination and to insure cross-pollination.[ToList]
FIG. 77.
Bud and flower of jewel-weed, or "touch-me-not." A. Interior of bud. Stamens are seen, but there appears to be no pistil. B. Section of bud showing the pistil concealed behind the stamens. C. Bee entering flower comes in contact with stamens and is loaded with pollen. D. Same bee entering older flower. The stamens have ripened and been pushed off by the lengthened pistil, which is brushed by the back of the bee, and thus is pollinated. This is a contrivance to insure cross-pollination.[ToList]
FIG. 78.
A. Pistillate flower of strawberry. B. Perfect flower of strawberry.
(Drawing by M.E. Feltham.)[ToList]
FRUIT
The pistil develops and forms the fruit of the plant. This fruit bears seed for the production of new plants. This fruit may be a dry pod like the bean or pea, or it may be a fleshy fruit like the apple or plum. Now the developing pistil or fruit may be checked in its work of seed production by insects and diseases, and to secure good fruit it is in many cases necessary to spray the fruits just as the leaves are sprayed, to keep these insects and diseases in check.