EPIGYNEiE 301 



The ring of hairs in the throat of the corolla protects 

 the honey. The honey, however, rises high in the 

 tube so that humble-bees can reach it. The flowers 

 are dimorphic. In the smaller one the stigmas are 

 of the same length or shorter than the stamens. In 

 the large-flowered form the stigmas are longer. 

 The anthers turn outwards. Insects in alighting on 

 the petals to get at the honey touch them with the 

 abdomen, and in flying to another flower the pollen 

 so collected is deposited on the stigma. The capsule 

 opens and the seeds are wind-dispersed. 



Crocus was a beautiful youth who fell in love with a 

 nymph, Smilax. For his impertinence the legend has 

 it that he was turned into the golden blooms of this 

 flower (the Yellow Crocus, C. aureus, an allied species). 



Owing to the time of flowering the Crocus was 

 dedicated to St. Valentine. 



Crocus vernus. — In Fig. 81 several plants are 

 seen growing amongst grass. The leaves are linear, 

 lance-shaped. The long tube of the corolla may be 

 readily seen. 



Gladiolus {Gladiolus illyrictis). 



In the first Latin name the sword-like character 

 of the leaves is indicated. 



This is an extremely rare plant, which is found in 

 England only in the New Forest, Hampshire, and 

 Isle of Wight, where it is becoming increasingly rare. 

 It has been suggested that it has been introduced in 

 this country. 



