HARDWICKE'S SCI ENC E-G OSSl 1\ 



I J 



CONTRASTS BETWEEN THE COLOURS OF 

 FLOWERS AND FRUITS. 



HAT there are 

 marked contrasts 

 between the pre- 

 vailing colours of 

 flowers and suc- 

 culent fruits, is 

 patent to the most 

 casual observer, 

 and it may interest 

 the readers of 

 Science - Gossip 

 to have a few of 

 the facts relating 

 to the subject 

 briefly presented 

 to them. Many 

 of the following 

 observations can 

 be verified in 

 one's ordinary 



walks by the 

 hedge-rows, during the autumn and winter. 



Confining our attention to the British flora, we 

 find that the least frequent colours that occur in 

 flowers are black and scarlet. Of the former hue, 

 there appear to be none whatever, a partial exception 

 may be made with reference to rapavcr JiyhriJitm 

 (hybrid poppy), which possesses the peculiar cha- 

 racter of black discs, associated with scarlet petals, 

 one at the base of each of these organs, and hence 

 not very "conspicuous. That such a sombre hue as 

 black should be well-nigh absent from corollas is_ 

 not surprising when it is considered that brilliant 

 colours are so important as accessories to cross ferti- 

 lisation, inasmuch as they appeal to the colour-sense 

 of insects whose offices are so necessary to ensure this 

 result. 



Of scarlet flowers, which arc so abundant numeri- 

 cally in the cultivated fields of some districts, there 

 are but three genera, which belong to as many 

 natural orders. These are pheasant's-eye (Adonis, 

 N.O. Ranunculaceae) ; poppies, four species (N.O. 

 Papaveraceae) and poor man's weather-glass {AnagalUs 

 No. 196. — April 18S1. 



arveiisis, N.O. Primulacere). The first of these is 

 probably introduced, and is not widely distributed in 

 these islands. The poppies, if not truly native, are 

 perfectly naturalised, and occur in too great profusion 

 in many localities ; and it is worthy of note that all 

 three of these genera grow only in such places as are 

 exposed to full sunlight. In the bog-pimpernel 

 {AnagalUs tenella) the colour is softened down to a 

 delicate rosy hue. 



In striking contrast to the rarity of the colours just 

 referred to, it is remarkable that nearly half of our 

 British succulent fruits and coloured seeds are black, 

 and about forty per cent, are red or scarlet. In 

 verification of this, it is necessary to refer only to the 

 well known glossy black fruits of blackberries (Rubi), 

 buckthorn, sloe, elder, privet, juniper, and the less 

 frequently seen herb paris (Paris qiiadrifolia). Of 

 scarlet and red fruits, every one is familiar with the 

 haws of whitethorn, the fruits of rowan tree, bitter- 

 sweet, cherry, cotoneaster, and white bryony. "With 

 these should also be included the succulent receptacles 

 (false fruits) of rosa, and strawberry. In the latter, the 

 true fruits are distributed over the exterior, and in the 

 former over the interior, of the special modifications 

 of the flower stalks, which are popularly styled fruits. 



Passing from these extreme hues, it will be noticed 

 that there is a marked prevalence of white flowers, 

 and it sometimes happens that those which are 

 normally blue or red present white varieties. These 

 are distributed through many natural orders, and the 

 intensity of the whiteness appears to be increased in 

 those that are fertilised by night-flying insects. As 

 examples of white flowers may be mentioned water 

 crowfoot, many crucifers, stitchworts, evening lychnis, 

 cherry, woodruff, privet, frogbit, and lily of the 

 valley. Reverting to fruits, it will be noticed that 

 white ones are very rare ; the most familiar is probably 

 the mistletoe, the white berries of which gleam 

 amongst the yellowish-green foliage. The only other 

 British example that one can find in Hooker's 

 "Student's Flora " is Stnilacina bifolia, a near ally of 

 the lily of the valley, but this might almost be 

 excluded, as it has been found in only two or three- 



