154 TYPES OF BRITISH PLANTS 
when they call on the important business of fertilisation. 
It may be noted here that whereas the plants of the last 
group depended on the wind for the dispersal of their 
pollen, those we have now to deal with lay themselves out 
to attract insects, by striking flowers, 
sweet honey, and often by such savoury 
scent as delights even dull human 
beings in the case of the thyme. But 
not all insects are required. Small 
insects are not wanted, but above all 
bees and humble-bees are the favourites. 
One variety of the humble-bee, which 
has rather a short tongue, is kept away 
by the length of the tube from some of 
them; but, extraordinary as it sounds, he has found a way 
to revenge himself, and simply bites his way through the 
base of the tube to get at the honey, without paying for it 
in any way, by carrying off pollen to another waiting flower. 
In fact, he commits flat burglary. Everyone knows the 
white nettle, which comes up in ditches, hedgerows, and 
everywhere fairly early in spring, with its rings of white 
flowers around the stem, handsomely set off by its black 
stamens. In its leaf it greatly resembles the stinging 
nettle, and plenty of the genuine poisoner is generally 
close to it, so that the indiscriminating browsing cattle 
leave both respectfully alone; and even the rambling 
plant-hunter approaches with discretion at first, though 
he soon recognises that the teeth around the edge of the 
leaf are not quite so pointed in our harmless friend, and 
that the general texture is a good deal less harsh. No 
doubt this resemblance is of enormous use in protecting 
the youthful plant, but the eternal puzzle remains, ‘“‘ How 
has it come about?” If we suppose that in the struggle | 
LABIATE FLOWER. 
