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WILD FLOWER FAMILIES 



To find the pure white blossoms of the Par- 

 tridge Vine or Twin-berry you must seek the 

 shade of the pine woods early in June, where the 

 brown carpet of fallen needles is variegated with 



the dark green, oval 

 leaves of this plant. 

 The flowers are always 

 borne in pairs, each 

 terminating a short 

 branch. Later they 

 give place to the curious 

 double fruits which, 

 when red and ripe, 

 give the plant its com- 

 mon name. The flow- 

 ers are tubular, with 

 four flaring petal lobes. 

 On the front of these, 

 as well as inside the 

 tube, are numerous fine 

 white hairs, making a 

 thicket that effectually 

 prevents any wandering 

 ant from crawling 

 down the tube and stealing the nectar, which 

 is thus reserved for the bees that bring about 

 cross-pollination. This is insured by the fact 

 that in some flowers the stigma projects in the 

 mouth of the corolla and the stamens are low, 

 while in others this condition is reversed. 



PARTRIDGE VINE 



