296 THE STORY OF PLANT LIFE 



Between June and September one may look for 

 the flowers in bloom. The plant is a herbaceous 

 perennial and is from i to 2 ft. high. 



Honey is secreted at the base of the spur. The 

 tube is divided into two parts by a membranous parti- 

 tion. In the smaller is the pistil. The larger half is 

 produced into a spur, and lined with hairs which 

 point downwards and protect the honey. The honey 

 can only be reached by long-lipped Lepidoptera. 

 The stamen is united to the corolla and free just 

 below the lobe. It projects when the flower opens, 

 and when ripe the stigma lengthens, and in this 

 way self-pollination is not possible. The long 

 stamen may curl over, however, and touch the stigma 

 of an adjacent floret. 



The fruit is crowned with a feathery pappus, 

 which causes it to be dispersed by the wind. 



The Red Valerian is much cultivated in gardens 

 and is a handsome plant. 



The plant is also called American Lilac, Red Cow 

 Basil, Bouncing Bess, Bovisand Soldier, Cat-bed, 

 Cow-fat, Delicate Bess, Drunken Sailor, Drunken 

 Willies, Fox's Brush, German Lilac, Good Neigh- 

 bourhood, Kiss-me, Pretty Betsy, Pretty Betty, 

 Scarlet Lightning, Sweet Betsy, Sweet Mary, Red 

 Valerian. 



Centranthus ruber. — The form of the flower is 

 shown in Fig 64, arranged in a secund manner in a 

 dense cyme. 



