USES OF THE PARTS OF A FLOWER TIME: WHEN FLOWERS ARE BLOOMING Object: To learn the uses of the parts of a flower. Material needed: Flowers in yard or field. DIRECTIONS 1. To find the use of the calyx: For this experiment select large flowers, such as poppy, rose, etc. Begin when the buds are small and remove the calyx, taking care not to injure other parts of the flower. Treat about half a dozen buds and label them. Label some untreated buds to serve as a control. How do the treated flowers develop? Since the calyx is green, does it perform the function of a true leaf? 2. To find the use of the corolla: Cut away the corollas of flowers frequented by insects, and observe whether the insects cease their visits. Notice that small flowers are usually grouped in clusters; does this help to attract insects? Find some flowers with bright, showy colors, and watch for visits by insects. Are they frequent? 3. To find the use of stamens and pistils: Stamens of the corn plant are borne on the tassels, and the pistils are the silks. Find an isolated stalk somewhere and remove the tassel just as it appears; examine when the silk is dead. Are there any kernels? Suppose you find a few scattered kernels on the cob, what does this prove? Tie a paper bag over an ear before the silk appears, so as to exclude all pollen, and examine later. What effects do you notice on the silks and the kernels? FURTHER STUDY OF FLOWERS IN THEIR RELATION TO INSECTS TIME: WHEN FLOWERS ARE BLOOMING Object: To discover the part insects play in plant life. Material needed: Flowers in the field. DIRECTIONS 1. Study the flower of the wheat plant. Has it the same kinds of parts as other flowers? Are these flowers visited by insects? Who can find just the hour in which the wheat flower opens? 2. Describe the flowers of pines, oaks, and nettles. Why do they produce an abundance of pollen? Does corn produce more or less pollen relatively than wheat, and why? 3. Are the flowers of grape and Virginia creeper visited by insects? Are the flowers conspicuous? Do they have an attractive odor? Draw some conclusions from these observations. 4. Collect several kinds of flowers and endeavor to find the nectar, or honey. In what part of the flower do you find the nectar? Do all flowers have nectar? Does the nectar benefit the flower? QUESTIONS 1. Why are the flowers blooming late in the fall usually dull in color? 2. Why does the honey-bee visit white clover, and the bumble bee red clover? 3. Would it be well to use the first cutting of clover for seed? PERFECT AND IMPERFECT STRAWBERRY BLOSSOMS TIME: WHEN STRAWBERRIES ARE IN BLOOM Object: To learn how to distinguish between perfect and imperfect blossoms, and what variety will produce fruit without the aid of another variety. Material needed: Strawberry blossoms, seed catalogue. DIRECTIONS Collect some strawberry blossoms for study. Try to find both perfect and imperfect flowers. The perfect flowers bear both pistils and stamens; the pistils are grouped in the center of the flower, while the stamens are located around these at the base of the petals. The pistils are pointed, but the stamens have a knob on top. The imperfect flowers bear pistils only, and cannot produce fruit unless they are planted near a variety which has perfect flowers. It would be safe to set out a variety bearing imperfect flowers, provided you set the third or fourth row each time with some variety bearing perfect flowers. Suppose you wish to know what varieties are perfect or imperfect, when getting ready to order plants. Look in the catalogue where the varieties |
