50 WILD FLOWER FAMILIES 



and spotless white. As it appears above the leaf 

 the young flower shows two large sepals that 

 remind one of the Poppy relationship of the 

 species. These greenish white sepals, however, 

 are caducous, being attached to the stalk just 

 below the flower in such a fragile manner that 

 the mere opening of the petals breaks them off. 



Even the petals remain for but a little season : 

 they soon fall away and leave the tiny fruits on the 

 end of the flower stalk. When the sun shines 

 brightly the petals project horizontally, but when 

 it is near the horizon or hidden by rain clouds 

 tliey become vertical. 



The Bloodroot blossoms are freely visited for 

 pollen by small bees and certain flies. Cross- 

 pollination generally results because in the newly 

 opened flowers the stigmas mature before the 

 anthers shed their pollen. There seems to be no 

 nectar and the muskv odor of the blossom, at least 

 to human smell, is not noticeable out of doors. 

 The way in which the plants grow in clusters 

 renders the flowers much more conspicuous than 

 they would be singly; while by blossoming so 

 early, before the leaves appear upon the trees 

 above them, they are sure to get the benefit of 

 all the sunshine that comes to earth during the 

 uncertain April weather. 



After the petals have fallen the fruit ripens 

 and splits apart and the leaves continue to grow 



