Part 38

=Fayal=, n. One of the Azores Islands, west of Portugal.

=Ferns=, n. A division of flowerless plants.

=Fertilize=, v. L. fertilis, fruitful; to make fruitful or productive, in the flower, by introducing the pollen to the ovule, enabling them in union to become a seed.

=Filament=, n. L. filum, a thread; the stem of an anther, often thread-like in form, though it varies greatly; any thread-like part.

=Flower=, n. L. flos, a flower; the part of a plant consisting of pistil, stamens, corolla, and calyx. Sometimes the corolla is wanting; sometimes both calyx and corolla are wanting. Since pistils and stamens are the most important part of the flower, an organ containing them only is called a flower. Sometimes a flower consists of only stamens or only pistils, as in some kinds of maple.

=Force pump=, n. A pump in which a liquid is moved by pressure behind instead of being lifted, as is the case in the ordinary pump.

=Fossil=, n. Animal or vegetable forms which have been long buried in the earth and so preserved; the forms or traces of animal or vegetable structures which have been preserved in rock.

=Fruit=, n. The matured ovary and all it contains or is incorporated with. Sometimes the calyx forms part of the fruit, as in the apple.

=Gamopetalous=, a. From two Greek words meaning “marriage” and “leaf” or “petal”; having the petals united or grown together. Where a flower has the corolla in the form of a tube it is called gamopetalous. Several petals are believed to be united into one piece.

=Geranium=, n. From a Greek word meaning “crane’s bill”; the name of a plant, so called because of the long, projecting beak of the seed-vessel.

=Gland=, n. Certain cells upon or near the surface of a plant that secrete, or take from the sap, certain substances. The nectary is a gland that secretes a sweet juice.

=Great pyramids of Egypt=, n. Three large pyramids at Ghizeh, near Cairo, in Egypt. The largest one is the largest work of man’s hands in the world. The pyramids are very interesting structures, and are probably the tombs of the ancient rulers of Egypt.

=Guard cells=, n. The curved cells that guard the entrance to the stomata, or breathing pores, of leaves.

=Hairs=, n. Fine, thread-like outgrowths from the skin of plants or animals.

=Halberd-shaped=, a. Shaped like a halberd, or old-time battle-ax. The bases of certain leaves are called halberd-shaped from their form.

=Hawthorne=, n. A small tree with thorny stems. The fruit consists of small bright red berries called “haws.”

=Heart=, n. The principal organ for the circulation of the blood in man and other animals.

=Hercules=, n. In Greek and Roman mythology, a mighty hero, the god of strength and courage. He performed many feats of strength, chief among which are those known as the twelve labors of Hercules.

=Honeycomb cells=, n. The wax cells made by bees for storing the honey.

=Hyacinth=, n. The name of an early spring flower; also of a precious stone.

=Hydrogen=, n. From two Greek words meaning “water producing.” It is a very light, invisible gas, and when chemically united to oxygen, two parts of hydrogen to one of oxygen, the result is water.

=Imbricated=, a. L. imber, rain, imbrex, a hollow roof tile to shed rain; imbricare, to cover with roof tiles; lying over one another, or lapping, like tiles on a roof. Applied to sepals that overlap over a bud.

=Included=, a. L. in, in, claudere, to shut, close; confined within something. Said of the stamens when they do not project beyond the mouth of the corolla.

=Inherit=, v. L. in, in, heres, heir; to take by descent from an ancestor. Plants, like people, inherit their characteristics from their parents.

=Iron=, n. A very abundant and very important metal. In small quantities it enters into the composition of plants and animals.

=Irritate=, v. L. irritare, to excite; to excite to action. Rubbing irritates the skin and causes extra blood to flow to the spot and thus redden it. Rubbing may also irritate plant tissues and cause an extra flow of sap to the part irritated.

=Jack-in-the-Pulpit.= The name of a plant that blooms in early summer. The flowers have no corollas or calyxes, but grow clustered together on a long spike. The spike of flowers is surrounded by a large overarching bract.

=Juan Fernandez=, n. An island, west of Chili, in South America. It is said to be the island where Robinson Crusoe lived.