CHAPTER IV

Sex in Plant Life

To many people who have not considered this phase of the subject, it may seem strange to hear scientists assert that the expressions and activities of sex are just as evident in the world of plant life as they are among animals. Male and female elements are found in every plant, and reproduction is the result of sexual union just as truly as it is among animals. The flower is the sexual organ—or rather, the sexual organs—of the plant. The female element of the flower produces the plant's seeds, but only when it is fertilized by the sexual product of the male element.

In some cases, the male element is found on one plant and the female on another. In other cases, the male and female elements are found in different parts of the same plant. For instance, in the case of Indian corn, the "tassel" contains the male flowers, while the "silk" contains the female flowers. The "ear," which contains the seeds, afterwards emerges from the female part after it has been fertilized by the male element. In the majority of plants, however, the flower contains both male and female elements and is thus fully hermaphroditic possessing both male and female reproductive organs in a single individual.

In order to understand the activities of sex among plants and flowers, let us consider in detail the various parts of the plant's sex organs, which we know by the name "flowers":

First, we have the part of the flower known as the calyx original Latin: calyx, meaning "cup" or "casing". This is the cup of the flower which covers its lower and outer parts and is generally green in color. Next, we have the corolla original Latin: corolla, meaning "little crown", which is the crown of the flower. It is composed of petals which are usually beautifully colored, and which many people consider to be the "flower" itself. The calyx and corolla form a cup-like