Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1908-09-12
FLOWER WEDDINGS.
How the insects Are Lured and the
Parts They Play.

FhFtS lHtJ ray
The tulip as II coy lover and the wild
srutn as dpcplvpr aud murderer were
among some highly Interesting exam
pies OF little known phases ~ plant and
Hover life described 10y Professor BOT.
tomlcy. VI A.. IN recent lecture at
the botanic gardens Professor Bot
tomlcy. who is professor of botany at
Kings college. entitled his lecture IVA
riouS Marriage Customs OF Plant Life"
He explained how flowers cntlce in
sects luto their service In order TO get
married aud SO propagate their spe.
cics Most flowers are dependent for
their fertilization upon insects. and so
the plants develop IN such u way as to
attract the custom of members OF the
insect world
The first means OF attracting insects.
said Professor Boitomley. was a very
human Onr and consisted Of providing
free drinks. Every flower has secreted
somewhere about II n large or small
store of honey. 10 which the insect. be II
nudge or butterfly is attracted But
rs an additional attraction flowers de-
velop beautiful scent or fascinating
attention.
II Is also interesting 10 note that the
simple flowers are married by simple
insects. mere curatcs. as the lecturer
described them. while the more elab-
crate flowers require more highly de-
veloprd insects. such rs bees or butter
flies bishops
Since the poor flower cannot go
a-wooing Itself and must be dependent
upon the kindly errands Of insects. II
not only renders itself attractive TO
those messengers Of love. but provides
them with comforts In the form OF
convenient resting places. some orchids
even providing a little stool upon which
bees may sit aud sip the honey.
or course the whole object of attract
Ing Insects Is to make them bear the
pollen powder from one plant TO an
other. the Introduction OF the pollen
making the fertilization OF the seeds
possible.
All plants are so arranged that while
the insects they attract are drinking
their honey the pollen powder Is either
being scattered over their bodies to be
taken to another plant or the pollen
already scattered OH the insect Is being
swept of by the, stlgmas OF the seed
boxes II is also interesting to notice
that those plants which attract moths.
which are night ~ Ing insects. are near
Is always white aud highly scented.
The pollen Of Il plant Is most jealous
~ guarded That Is why many flowers
being to keep the pollen from rain.
This is particularly noticeable in GRO
cuscs
Not only insects. but birds. snails
and the wind. help the plant world TO
make love The pollen grains OF the
pine tree which are spread 10y the wind
have tiny balloons attached to them.
The lecturer concluded with n de-
scrlptlon of the Wild arum. which was
described rs Il really wicked plant.
committing even murder in It's love
making. The wild arum secretes Il
honey that intoxicates insects. and.
not content with this decentralization II
develops berries which attract birds.
But these berries also prove poison
GUS 10 birds and SO bird. having
eaten of the berry. dies promptly falls
TO the earth and decays. The decaying
flesh forms the hest possible manure
for the growth of the arum seed re-
maining undgesied In the BIRDS car.
cass. London Mirror