Plants and their children

by Frances Theodora Parsons

Fig. 244

So far, the story of the strawberry is not new to us; but just here it begins to differ from the stories of the apple and pear, of the plum and peach and cherry. The flowers of all these trees had but one seedbox. But each of the many little strawberry pistils has a separate seedbox; and when the little seeds within get their touch of new life, the flat, cushionlike object (Fig. [241]) which bears these many pistils begins to act in a most surprising manner.

This flat flower cushion swells upward and outward (Fig. [242]), growing big and juicy and sweet, bearing its pistils (Fig. [243]) with it.

And so in the strawberry blossom it is the flat cushion hidden out of sight which grows into the delicious fruit.

A COUSIN OF THE STRAWBERRY

The strawberry is a member of the great Rose family. Among its many cousins we find the blackberry and the raspberry.

The blackberry blossom (Fig. [245]) also has five white leaves, and a center made up of pistils and stamens.