, 1909-09-04

and keel on which she is standing, and 30
allows the stamens and pistll to appear.
An examination of the standard has
shewn US that it is not what we sup
posed, perhaps an examination of the 9TH
or petals will likewise give some unex-
pected results. We can see in advance
that two properties are required in this set
of petals. First, they must be of sufn-
cient stiffness not to yield in parts only to
the bees pressure, but all must go down
together; and meet, each must be able to
turn down on some part that acts as a sort
of hinge and at the same time has sufficient
elasticity to act Us a spring to raise the
group of petals to its place again when the
bee leaves, and it is just these two proper
ties that we find. The wings, besides being
of good substance, except near their points,
are specially strengthened by a thick run
running all along the upper edge, reminding
us of the wire that tinsmiths fix around
the top Of q can. Besides this there is q
corrugation along the whole length of each
wing. A similar o0rrugation along each OF
the two sides of the keel fits into this and
cOmpels them to go down with the wings.
AS we near the junction of these petals with
the receptacle of the flower, however, all this
rightly ceases and each petal Is joined TO
JuS ESC6pIhCl6 DY Il Luln SJTlp, d CGUtO,
as the b~otanists say, and it Is this thin strip
which yields and allows the petals to come
down when the bee presses upon them.
Although so slim, each OF them has yet suf1i-
cient spring to lift the petal back to it's place.
There are still q couple Of points to be
considered before we leave this very interest
ing flower. Note the form of the calyx.
In the young bud it ia simply a protection
Gov kDo G,,on vo~A, IS A. 49,. - - Al-
2ower comes near the time of it's opening
we find that it is much longer on one
side than on the other. This long part.
when the flower opens is found to be be-
hind the standard and helps to strengthen
it, The short part of the calyx is under
meath the flower, where it is necessary To- al
low more play to the four petals which it sup
ports. Another point is that the ten stamens
are all grown together into q tube, but towards
the top they separate, each to carry it's own
anther. At the base, the stamen nearest
the standard also separates from the others,
leaving Il tiny space on each side, through
which the bee, after she has pushed the four
petals out Of the way, can thrust her tongue.
In the case of the poinciana we saw that the
loose stamens pressed themselves together
to protect the nectary, but in tue seaside
bean we see that they are groom together;
Nature has attained the same result by q
different route.
The example we have studied illustrates
one of the ways in which the papiliouaceous
flowers are fertilized by bees, but Nature
loves variety and there are other ways. One,
which has always seemed to the writer deep
ly interesting, is to be found in the case Of
q bright yellow pea, fower which may be
seen in bitches and along the road-sides,
growing on a running vine. Probably it is
commonly known as the yellow pea ~ The
standard is erect and the cease" comes for
ward as in the flower just considered. It
is a bright and well-formed flower, we'll
formed except for one thing, which is this
the projecting four petals, the cease which
holds the stamens and pistil, hhs a bend to
one side about halfway up it's length. We
might take this bend for an accidental de-
formity if We did not observe that every
flower within sight has it. We open up the
flower IN the hope of learning the meaning
of this oddly, and what do we find ? First
we notice that the pistil is quite a remark
able structure. As usual, the ovary. the
future pod, is at the base, but higher up is
a beautiful little brush of fine white hairs
growing out of one side of the style. Pre-
sently we shall see what the brush is for
in the meanwhile wa potioo kbo4 H. .A:un,u