I cannot show a lily dust grain in the act of sending out its life-bearing tube; but above is a dust grain (Fig. 186) from the thorn apple. You see that it has burst open, and that a tube is pushing its way out. This picture (Fig. 187) is that of a pistil seedbox cut open, showing you a tube that is working its way from the dust grain above to a tiny seed in the seedbox below. [Illustration: FIG. 187] As I told you in the last chapter, the name “pollen” has been given to this wonder-working flower dust. A grain of flower dust is a grain of pollen. In many flowers you will find a pistil much like the one that you see in the lily. But there are as many different kinds of pistils as there are different kinds of stamens. This pistil (Fig. 188) is from the grass of Parnassus, that pretty white flower which you find in the wet meadows in August and September. It has no real stalk, you see, like that of the lily; but it is quite thick all the way from top to bottom. In Fig. 189 it is cut across, showing the seeds inside. [Illustration: FIG. 188] [Illustration: FIG. 189] [Illustration: FIG. 190] [Illustration: FIG. 191] [Illustration: FIG. 192] Many pistils that are joined in one piece below, where the seeds are held, separate above into two or more parts. Fig. 190 shows the seed holder of a saxifrage, divided into two pieces above; Fig. 191 gives that of the Saint John’s-wort, separating into three parts; that of the sundew (Fig. 192) separates into six parts. Fig. 193 is a section of the pea flower. This is cut lengthwise so as to show you the seeds which line the inner surface of the pistil. Here you have the baby pea pod. All these flowers have only one real pistil,—one pistil which may persuade you, by the way in which it separates above, into thinking that there are more than one. So you must be on your guard in this respect, and remember that flowers have a way of playing tricks with all but the most wide-awake of boys and girls. Look long and carefully before you declare that a flower has only one pistil. [Illustration: FIG. 193] Here we see half of a buttercup (Fig. 194). The buttercup has a great many entirely separate pistils. Look sharply at the picture, and you will see them crowded upon the little thimble-shaped object in the middle of the blossom. Do not confuse them with the stamens, for the buttercup has also a great many stamens. When buttercup time comes round, I want every one of you to look at these many pistils and stamens. [Illustration: FIG. 194] [Illustration: FIG. 195] The next picture (Fig. 195) shows you a strawberry. In the strawberry blossom the pistils are so small, and so crowded, and so hidden by the many stamens, that it is not easy to see them; and so I show you the full-grown berry, with little pistils scattered all over its surface. Each of those tiny objects which stand out on the strawberry is a separate pistil.