These lilies are pleasant flowers to study. Their different parts are so large and simple that you have no doubt as to what they are meant for. The bees could hardly overlook their great, showy handkerchiefs; and the heaping dust boxes must powder the visiting bees so freely with golden or brownish dust, that plenty of this is sure to be carried to the pistil of a neighboring blossom; and the flat tip of this pistil is so large and so sticky, that, once the dust is brushed upon it, it is sure to stay there until its wonderful work is accomplished.
The gay tulip (Fig. [165]) is a cousin to the lily. It is built on almost the same plan. There is no green cup in the tulip; but every tulip has
1. Flower leaves.
2. Stamens.
3. Pistil.
The tip of the tulip’s pistil is divided into three parts.
ABOUT STAMENS
Let us take a good look at the stamens of the Easter lily. There are six of these. Each dust box is fastened to the tip of a tall stalk. Fig. [166] shows you a single stamen from the Easter lily. It is drawn somewhat larger than life. Its box has opened, and is letting out some grains of dust.
