“The outer florets are very large and white,” said Frank.
“They are very flat, while the inner ones are yellow and round. They are very like small crocus flowers. What is that small two-headed thing that comes out in the centre of each floret?”
“That is the part which leads to the seed-vessel. Can you see the seed-vessel at the bottom of each floret?”
“Yes,” said Tom, “it is large and round. On the top of it and all round the petal part of the floret there are long silky hairs.”
“In flowers of this kind, when the seeds are ripe they are carried away by the wind,” said Uncle George. “The petal part withers, but the tuft of hairs remain. They are to the seed what sails are to a ship. They are much better seen in some other flowers related to the daisy, such as the thistle.
“Now cut open the seed-vessel and see how many seeds it contains.”
“There is only one, I think,” said Frank.
“You think correctly,” said his uncle. “Each seed-vessel holds a single seed.”
“The seed-vessel in the large white floret is small and flat,” said Tom.
“It is,” said Uncle George. “In fact, the outer florets seldom produce seeds.”