302 THE STORY OF PLANT LIFE 



ovoid, beaked, angular, crowned by eight to ten 

 radiating teeth or short bristles. 



Flowers are to be found between June and August 

 or up till September and even October. It is a 

 herbaceous perennial, like most meadow plants, and 

 from I to 4 ft. in height. The flowers contain 

 abundant honey on the upper surface of the ovary, 

 and it is easily accessible. The stamens yield much 

 pollen so that insect visitors of all types are numerous. 

 Hairs above protect the honey from rain. 



The stamens project when the flowers open, 4 to 5 

 mm., and the anthers open successively, the male 

 condition lasting some days. After they have shed 

 pollen they shrivel up. The pistil elongates and 

 takes the place of the stamens. 



The outer florets open first, then the central ones. 

 Some florets are female, early in the season, with 

 imperfect anthers, and are less numerous in some 

 places. The florets in the centre have shed pollen 

 before the stigmas in the marginal florets are ripe. 

 The stigmas ripen together. The head is thus male 

 first, then female. This prevents self-pollination. As 

 many as 100 visitors have been counted. 



The fruit is crowned with bristles and may be 

 wind-dispersed. 



This lovely wild flower has had numerous names 

 bestowed upon it, such as Bachelor's Buttons, Billy 

 Button, Black Soap, Blue Buttons, Bluecaps, Blue- 

 men, Broadweed, Cardies, Clodweed, Clogweed, 

 Curl-doddy, Egyptian Rose, Gipsy Flower, Gipsy 



