Fig. 187
I cannot show a lily dust grain in the act of sending out its life-bearing tube; but above is a dust grain (Fig. [186]) from the thorn apple. You see that it has burst open, and that a tube is pushing its way out.
This picture (Fig. [187]) is that of a pistil seedbox cut open, showing you a tube that is working its way from the dust grain above to a tiny seed in the seedbox below.
As I told you in the last chapter, the name “pollen” has been given to this wonder-working flower dust. A grain of flower dust is a grain of pollen.
In many flowers you will find a pistil much like the one that you see in the lily.
But there are as many different kinds of pistils as there are different kinds of stamens.
This pistil (Fig. [188]) is from the grass of Parnassus, that pretty white flower which you find in the wet meadows in August and September. It has no real stalk, you see, like that of the lily; but it is quite thick all the way from top to bottom. In Fig. [189] it is cut across, showing the seeds inside.
| Fig. 188 | Fig. 189 | Fig. 190 | Fig. 191 | Fig. 192 |
Many pistils that are joined in one piece below, where the seeds are held, separate above into two or more parts. Fig. [190] shows the seed holder of a saxifrage, divided into two pieces above; Fig. [191] gives that of the Saint John’s-wort, separating into three parts; that of the sundew (Fig. [192]) separates into six parts. Fig. [193] is a section of the pea flower. This is cut lengthwise so as to show you the seeds which line the inner surface of the pistil. Here you have the baby pea pod.