I42 STUDIES OF NATURE. 



fix; flowers with plane reflectors, as the radiated, 

 have a great number. 



Farther, flowers have parts adapted to the other 

 elements. Some are clothed externally with a hairy 

 garment, to fhelter them from the cold. Others 

 are formed to blow on the furface of the water ; 

 fuch are the yellow rofes of the nymphasa, which 

 float on lakes, and accommodate themfelves to the 

 various movements of the waves, without being 

 wet by them, by means of the long and pliant 

 items to which they are attached Thofe of the 

 valifneria are ftili more artfully difpofed. They 

 grow in the Rhone, and would be there expofed 

 to frequent inundation by the fudden fwellings of 

 that river, had not Nature given them ftems 

 formed lik a cork-fcrew, which draw out at once 

 to the length of three or four feet. 



There are other flowers adapted to the winds 

 and to the rains, as thofe of peafe, which are fur- 

 nifhed with little boats to cover and fhelter the 

 ftamina, and the embryons of their fruits *. Be- 



fides, 



* I am perfuaded, that the bearing of moft flowers is adapted 

 to the rains, and for this reafon it is that many of them have 

 the form of mufflers, or ridges, like little boats inverted, which 

 fhelter the parts of fecundation. I have remarked that many 



fpecies 



