“But the bulb grown in soil has not only produced flowers and green leaves. It has gathered up enough material from soil and air to form new bulbs for next year.”
1. Snowdrop Flower—A, the spathe. 2. Crocus Plant. 3. Old and Young Corms of Crocus. 4. Young Snowdrop Flower enclosed in its spathe. 5. Crocus Flower. 6. Tulip Flower dissected.
Uncle George then divided the crocus flower with his knife from top to bottom.
“At the very bottom of the flower,” he said, “you see the ovary, or seed-vessel, containing the tiny seeds. From the seed-vessel a long thin rod or tube stretches to the very mouth of the flower. You can also see the remains of the spathe which once enclosed the whole flower.”
“And what are those three things covered with orange-coloured dust?” asked Tom.
“These,” said his uncle, “are the stamens or pollen-boxes; and the orange-coloured powder is the pollen. This pollen is carried about from flower to flower by the bees. Pollen is necessary for the production of seeds.
“Do you know why the seed-vessel of the crocus is so far down under the ground?
“It is because the crocus flowers in winter-time, and the frost might kill the young seeds. Underground they are safe from frost. The snowdrop is a hardy flower, and, besides, the walls of its seed-vessel are very thick.
“The tulip, if grown outside, flowers much later than the other two plants.