1. Describe the arrangement of the stamens in the wallflower, the sage, and the primrose. 2. Describe the pistil of the deadnettle, the primrose, and the shepherd’s purse. (1895) 3. In what respects does the flower of the buttercup differ from that of the wild rose? 4. Explain the arrangement and form of the stamens in some flower selected by yourself. Describe the structure and contents of the anther. (1897) 5. Where is the pollen of a flower formed? What is its use? (1898) 6. Name one or two plants which do not ripen seed if insects are excluded, and show why they do not. (1898) 7. Name two plants which would be in flower in each of the months from March to August inclusive, and state in what localities they would be found? (N.F.U.) 8. In what ways are insects attracted to visit flowers? Give examples, with an explanation and drawing in each case, of any special structure which may be a means of attraction. (N.F.U.) 9. Name ten flowering plants which may be found, (a) in a shady wood, (b) in a meadow, in late spring. 10. Name any fresh specimens of flowers which usually could be obtained growing wild in March, June, and October respectively. (N.F.U.) 11. What wild flowers would you expect to find in early April in your part of the country? In what kinds of places would you look for them? (N.F.U.) 12. Name the parts of any flower you have examined which are concerned with the production of seed. (King’s Scholarship, 1904) [Pg 125] CHAPTER VII. GRASSES. 27. THE EVERYDAY LIFE OF A GRASS. 1. General features.—Pull up a sod of couch grass or of Yorkshire fog and clear away the earth as well as possible. Notice the fibrous, creeping branches or stolons, and the bunches of fine roots. In summer the plant sends up also erect branches called haulms, which bear leaves and flowers. Examine the shape of the leaves and notice their parallel venation, which indicates (p. 40) that the plant is a monocotyledon. Observe how the leaves are borne on the haulms. Each leaf arises at a knot (node) which is slightly swollen. The first part of the leaf is a sheath which encloses the haulm up to perhaps the next knot. Then the leaf-blade stands out from the haulm. Turn back the blade slightly and notice at this point a little strap, the ligule (Fig. 98), on the upper surface of the leaf-blade. Notice the variation in the size and shape of the ligules of different kinds of grass. Pull the haulm until it gives way, and draw the broken part out of the leaf-sheaths. Chew the end, and notice the taste of sugar. Cut across haulms of various ages. The young haulms are solid; the old ones are hollow except at the nodes, where there is a horizontal shelf. Notice this also in a bamboo cane, which is the haulm of a large tropical grass. In spring, mark a young haulm, so that you can recognise it, and measure it day by day. Note the measurements made on various days, and also the date of opening of the flowers. [Pg 126]