i6S 



WILD FLOWER FAMILIES 



sized conspicuous blossom, which, at first glance, 

 appears to be composed of four large white petals. 

 A more careful scrutiny, however, shows that 

 there are complete though tiny flowers above these 

 supposed petals and that what looks like a single 

 blossom really consists of a good many flowers 



1 



DWARF CORNEL OR ?;UNCHBHKKV 



crowded together in one head. The white petaloid 

 parts, which the botanists call bracts, serve to 

 render the flower-head conspicuous and help to 

 attract short-tongued insects of many kinds to 

 the flowers, their reward being found in the nectar 

 which is secreted around the base of the style. 

 The flowering heads have a delicate odor. 



After the white bracts have fallen off each 



