THE LTLY FAMILY 



151 



wsa. 



2. It is a fragile, weak Climber that sprouts up from a 

 tuberous root-stock. The round, green stem is very slender and 

 long, so*th£>t it is ob- 

 liged to seek the sup- 

 port of other plants 

 or things. For this 

 purpose, it uses its 

 leaves, which are ta- 

 pering tendrilwise, 

 asking for something 

 to curl round it and 

 climb. And thus the 

 plant raises its top 



to the free air and full sunlight "unfurling its lire-flowers like 

 banners of triumph". 



3. The Flowers are exceptionally beautiful. They are 

 placed in large racemes and hence become visible from a great 



distance. The floral 

 cover is a perianth of 

 six leaves arranged in 

 two series of three each, 

 the members of each 

 circle alternating with 

 those of the other. This 

 can be easily seen in 

 the green bud which is 

 drooping. When the 

 blossom opens, the peri- 

 anth-leaves curl back, 

 the six stamens stand 

 out at right angles from 

 the floral axis, and the 

 long, slender style bends 



away from the hanging ovary at an acute angle and lies in the 



same plane as the stamens. 



The flower has no scent, but by the showy colours of its 



petals it is able to attract insects. The petals are bright-yellow 



riosa 



sup 67 



