Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-04-18
SOME QUEER FLoFERs
Whose Shape SuggestsYa Resemblance to
Certain Animals.

Whose shape SuggestsYa Resemblance to
Certain Animals.
Did you ever see q field OF wild
larkspur, with its rich colors-violet,
purple, deep blue, or white, asks q
writer in the Philadelphia Times. In
the centre OF each blossom the four
petals form a little rabbit, with ears
alert and listening. The white rabbit
is especially pretty, and no one can fail
to notice the odd likeness to the animal
form. The colored leaves, which seem
to be part Of the flower, are really the
sepals Of the calyx. s5.
You can also find lark in the flower
by pulling off all the sepals except two,
which are left for the birds outspread
wings. The long spur. which runs
back wards, is the tspering body and
long tail OF the lark. When l was a
child 1t was great pleasure to see my
hidden bird appear, as the Unnecessary
sepals we're removed, and it was just
in the graceful act Of flight from the
stem. ,e
Another flower of the same family,
the wild cUlumbine, takes the name
from columbia, q dove, on account OF
the likeness OF the bright petals to a
group of doves surrounded by water
bowl. As coon as the colored sepals
are removed this likeness is very
obvious.
The snap dragon, one Of the charm.
| ing figworts, is another delightful
| flower TO a child, because he can open
| the gaping jaws of the dragons mouth
and its furry tongue, and the spots and
blotches Of color remind him of the
leopard's spots and the tigers stripes.
The beafd-tongue, with It's swollen
throat, is one of the same grotesque
group. The monkey flower las only to
show its odd, grinning blossom to ex'
| plain its Latin name, which means q
"little JOKER" or clown mimulus.
by the way, the pretty gold ano
purple pansies display queer little
monkey faces in their open flowers,
which seem to nod and grimace with
every passing breeze. The turtlebeae
is named from it's blossom, ''shapec
like TURTLES head with close6
mouth. " This, too, is woody bearded
in the throat, - which adds to ii,
general aueerness of look. The fox
glove sounds like a German fairy tale
with Master Reynard concealing hi,
paw in an elf-made glove. The monks
hood also suggests q story, had oni
for the monks, for If you look vel
under the dark-blue hood, or cowl
made by the calyx you will discover
cunningly hid. two dIminptive hammer
like claws, the only petals this fowe
possesses
The prcttlest blossom that mimi
life are tho bee, the butterfly and tn
dove orchids, and the charming mott
mulleins, clustered thickly with ex
quisite purple or canary yellow, moth
shaped flowers, ready to fly. The,
carry violet wool 10 keep the insid
dry from rain, and this iich tint, witt
the orange ollen, make the centra
part OF the blossoms as gay as a tropi
cal butterfly
The mouse ear aud the dandelio
(the lions TOOTH and the ragged robl
also suggest animal likeness and asso
Citations. and many plants have see
vessels that are shaped like the hea
and the spurred foot of bird, as n
hook beaked crowfoot, the cranesbill
or geranium, from Latin word 10
crane, and many others. Like chill
dren the early observers OF nature dc
lighted in odd resemblances, and mad
a kind OF fairy story of their imperfeo
science.