First of all, Maddie was getting confused. What were these parts called again? Spadix? Spathe? And what the heck was a frill? Whatever this stuff was called, she at least knew what part of the plant to scrap away at. She already had enough spadix, or whatever it was called, so all she needed was 1/3 cup of...that other stuff.

Spathe?

Yeah, that.

Maddie reached her hand back into the plant and began scraping away at the spathe. As she did this, she thought about what the professor had just said to Emmlyn. The plant could feel her scraping away at it? OUCH. Sorry, little guy. She couldn't decide if she should hurry and get this over with or take her time and be gentle. Either way, after all that thinking, she'd actually ended up with the 1/3 cup she needed.

She stopped scraping and stepped away from the plant.