172 FLORA HISTORIC^. 



of a pale orange colour, bearing two distinct circular 

 plates, the lower one of which is of a full orange 

 colour, and the top one white, which may be 

 compared to a shilling placed on a guinea; the 

 lower one is thought to be the true stigma : on 

 the top of the white plate there is a short green 

 elevation, which is crowned with five white drooping 

 feathery substances, that form a rosette, whose 

 purpose seems to be that of confining down the 

 overhanging parts of the anthers, without entirely 

 excluding the air, which can pass through the 

 feathery nature of this crown. The whole of this 

 flower deserves the most curious investigation ; and 

 when the internal parts are viewed through a micro- 

 scope, we can scarcely do less than exclaim in the 

 words of Delille — 



Each secret spring, each organ let me trace, 

 That mock the proudest arts of human race ; 

 Completest toil ! from endless source that rose, 

 Each -worth a world ; for each the Godhead shows. 



