পাতা:পদার্থবিদ্যাসার.djvu/১৫৯

148 Tut. . It is generally so; but in some plants the stamens grow in one blossom, and the pistils in another, and sometimes they grow on different plants: in such cases, the polien or dust of theanthera must be conveyed by the wind, or by insects, or by some other means, to the stigma of the pistil, or no perfect seed will be produced. Pup. Have you any thing furulier to say of tlie stamina and pistils Tuf. Y es, the stamen consists of two paris, the filament and anthera; the pistil of three, the stigma, style, and germen. Pup. How is the seed produced by these ? Tut. When the flower is full blown, the anthera bursts, and discharges a fine dust, called pollen, on the stigma, and causes the production of the seed and fruit. Pup. What are the pericarp and receptaele ? Tut. The pericarp is the general name for the seedvessel, and the receptacie is that part by which it and all the fructification is supported. Pup. May l ask you what are th^se properiies of flowers which I ought more particularly to notice? Tut. Flowers are distinguishable by their beautiful colours, their variety, and by their fragrant smeli. Nor are they merely ornamental, but most of them very serviceable. It may justly fill you with admiration, that from green plants, so many fragrant flowers should spring up—that from bulbs of no very pleasing form should arise such variegated flowers. Pup. What have you to observ e concerning their smeli ? Tut. This consists in the fragrance from the juices, and from volatile parts, which are contin ually exhaling out of the small evaporating tubes of the flowers, or from the leaves.