150 WILD FLOWER FAMILIES 



est in its structure because it shows a remarkable 

 adaptation to cross-pollination by insects. The 

 style of the pistil is developed into a petal-like 

 expanse, on the under side of which is the stigma. 

 The other parts of the flower are so arranged that 

 when a bee comes for nectar it brushes past the 

 stigma, leaving pollen upon it. Then it receives 

 a new supply of the golden dust to carry to the 

 next blossom that it visits. Bumble-bees are the 

 most frequent of these visitors, but there are 

 also many species of flies and butterflies. If you 

 will watch some of the Iris flowers for half an 

 hour you can see how the bees get the nectar and 

 also how some of the butterflies are able to steal 

 this sweetness without pollenizing the stigma. 



Blue-eyed Grass. The Blue-eyed Grass is 

 always a favorite with children as well as with 

 many older people. The small violet-blue blos- 

 som has a yellow center which, with the chief color 

 of the petals, makes what the artists call a com- 

 plementary harmony. The plant is not at all a 

 grass, belonging rather to the interesting Iris 

 family, so that the one who called this Blue-eyed 

 Grass '' the little sister of the stately Blue Flag " 

 was right. You can easily see the resemblance in 

 the mode of growth as well as in the structure of 

 the flower. The blossoming period is very short. 

 In cloudy or rainy weather the blossoms remain 

 closed, opening only in the sunshine. 



