Page 18 - (DK) Flowers
P. 18

Bursting into flower                                                                 The three petals of                             Calling all bees

                                                                                            an iris that point
                                                                                                                                            An iris is not just a pretty
                                                                                            upward are called                               shape —it is a complicated
       A flower bud is like a well-packed suitcase. It has                                  the “standards.” In                             machine that attracts bees
                                                                                            this iris, they are
       a tough outer cover, which stops it from being                                       frilly and rounded.                             to visit it. Once a bee
                                                                                                                                             has landed, the flower
       damaged. Inside, the different parts of the flower                                                                                       sprinkles it with a
       are rolled up tight, so they take up very little space.                                                                                    dust called pollen.
       As the bud grows, the flower expands
       inside. Soon, the flower becomes so                 The highest bud                  The three

       big that it can no longer fit in the bud.           flowers first. When              drooping petals                                             Bees use falls
                                                                                                                                                        as landing
       Then it bursts into bloom.                          it withers, the next             are called “falls.”                                         platforms.
                                                           bud opens.

                          Petals unfold after
       Iris flower buds   bursting through the                                              Streaks on the petals guide
       grow out from      bud’s papery sepals.                                              bees to a sweet food called
                                                                                            nectar at the center of
       folds in the                                                                                                                                           Tightly
                                                                                            the flower.
       pointed leaves.                                                                                                                                        rolled
                                                                                                                                                              petals
                                                                                                    Pretty in pink
                                                                                                    This lily bud is shaped like
                                                                                                    a torpedo. It has six long,
                                                                                                      pointed petals. Lilies grow                         Ovary
                                                                                                        from bulbs and come in
                                                                                                         a range of colors.                           Inside the bud
                                                                                                                                                     This iris bud has
                                      The buds are                                                                                                 been sliced open
                                      protected                                                           Anther coated                           just before it was
                                      by sepals.        Bearded bloom                                     with pollen                            about to bloom. See
                                                        The German iris,                                                                         if you can make out
                                                        also called “bearded iris,”                                                              the rolled-up petals
                                                        blooms in late spring to                                                                 and the ovary, where
                                                        early summer. It often                                                                   the seeds are made.
                                                        has fragrant flowers.
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