Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1901-03-15
WICKED WAYS OF FLOWERS.
Birds, and Are Guilty of Other
ImmOrnlities.

ImmOrnlities.
At the London institution Prof. w.
B. Bottomley lately lectured on
"Flowers" and their insect VISITORS"
says the London News.
The professor began by explaining
that the shapes of flowers determine
how the pollen shall be carried from
one to the sticky part above the seed
box of another. The carrying of the
pollen was nothing less than the mar
rying of the flowers, and the insect
that carried the pollen was the par
son. Among flower parsons there was
as much difference as among human
parsons, Dusky little gnats were the
curates; brilliant butterflies were
archbishops. Flower parsons, like hui
man parsons, wanted fees. The gnat
was content with a little bit of pol
len, but the archipiscopal butterfly
and the bee bishop demanded special
nectar. Among human beings near rel.
atives must not marry, and it was the
same among flowers. In the butter
cup, the "bait" or "fee" was in little
glands at the base of the petals, and
flowers of that character could be
married by many sorts of insect par
sons with short proboscides. In
monkshood and other flowers the
honey was secreted in cavities out of
reach of ordinary flies, and only a
highly organized insect could perform
the ceremony. The markings of the
nasturtium, the yellow hairs at the
base of the perianth leaves of the iris,
and the lines in the throat of the vio-
let, were simply signs or directions in
dicating to the insect exactly where
he would find the honey. In orchids
and other flowers there were plat
forms for insects to stand on while
getting the nectar. Aristolochia were
like lobster pots, the interior of the
tube being furnished with hairs point
ing inward, so that an insect could go
in quite easily, though how to get out
again was quite another story.
There were flowers, the arums in
particular-continued the professor
that deliberately made flies tipsy.
Flies found sweet drops of honey upon
the green surface, and further on they
found sweeter drops. The liquor be-
came stronger and stronger. Not
quite knowing what they were doing,
the insects went through the "lobster-
pot" hairs, and in the inner chamber
they found an eXtra-special strong
champagne, with the result that the
wretched little creatures tumbled
about and knocked their heads against
the sticky surface of the seed box.
But when the visitors had in their
drunkenness done what was required
of them, the "lobster-pot" hairs
withercd and so left open the door.
But. alas! for the depravity of insects.
Recovering their senses in the fresh
air, they saw other arum public
houses, and, not having learned wis
dom from their drunken bout, in they
went for another spree.
"But." Prof. Bottomley went on,
"a still lower depth OF depravity is
reached by the arum, which is one OF
the most immoral plants you can
imagine" Recalling the later stage,
when nothing remains but the bunch
Of red berries-each containing a ma
tured seed-on a stem, he explained
that this time the bright color was a
trick to attract other creatures than
insects. Alas how treacherous was
the arum! 1t was anxious to have the
seeds placed in suitable soil, so, well
knowing that the berries were poison.
ous. it induced birds to eat them
whereupon each unsuspicious little
songster died, and his body became
a small heap of decayed organic mat.
ter-excellent soil and manure for the
arum seed in the center.