138 NATURE-STUDY REVIEW [13:4— April, 1917 



are not slow in accepting the proffered sweets, carrying away on 

 their throats the precious golden pollen grains. 



The sepals, five in number, are placed, one between each two 

 petals, and are of the same color as the petals, in the wild columbine 

 scarlet bordered with yellow. The stamens and pistils hang in a 

 tassel below the flower, five pistils and many stamens. The 

 anthers, before ripening, are arranged "in an inverted pyramid," 

 each curled up at the tip, making them look "fat, yellow and globu- 

 lar." but when the pollen is ripe, the anther uncurls, extending 

 down below its unripe comrades; but alwa^^s the stigmas are lower 

 still. 



The plant grows from one to two feet in height, the leaves being 

 olive-green in color, some growing from the root and others being 

 placed alternately along the flower stem. The lower leaves are 

 three-lobed, and the lobes are lobed, but the upper leaA^es are 

 simply bracts at the bases of the flower pedicels. The seed capsule 

 consists of five pockets, each opening near the tip when the seeds 

 are ripe. 



The name columbine is derived from the Latin columba, meaning 

 a dove. Some think this name is appro- 

 priate because the claws of the blossom seem 

 to associate it with the bird. Mr. Prior 

 sees "the resemblance of the nectaries to 

 heads of pigeons in a ring around a dish, a 

 favorite device of ancient artists." Jean 

 Ingelow writes : 



"Columbine, open your folded wrapper, 

 Where the two twin turtle-doves dwell." 



while others says it is derived from the fact that one petal and two 



sepals of the white columbine are said to look like a dove. Perhaps 



no one has interpreted this flower so perfectly as has Professor 



L. H. Bailey in his poems, "Wind and Weather," of which a part is 



given : 



"Columbine 



What doest thou here 



Upon this chine 



Of rock-cliff sheer? 

 * * * 



A quickened thing drawn from a stone 

 With stems and buds and seed-pods grown 



