FLORAL DLPLOMACY. 



85 



such natural orders as the Labiates and Scrophu- 

 lariacece for instance. In no other group, perhaps 

 not even excepting the ingeniously constructed 

 OrchidacecBy do we find such a blended series of high 

 development. First of all, their petals are not only 

 united into one piece {gainopetalous), but the different 

 parts have developed unequally, so that the shape 

 of the flower is what botanists term irregular. Of 



Fig. 33.— Fertilisation of Salvia. Showing bee sucking nectar, and how the con- 

 nective would be disturbed so as to force down stamens on its back, just 

 where the pistil (si) would be touched by the pollen. 



these overgrown parts, the most important are those 

 forming the arched hood, which protects both stamens 

 and pistils from moisture, and the labium or lower 

 enlarged petal, thrust forth for insects to light upon, 

 as a kind of floral door-step. The latter is also fre- 

 quently brightly ornamented to attract them as well. 

 The colours of most of these Labiate flowers are blue 

 or purplish — claimed by Dr. H. Miiller as the latest 

 evolved. But the manner in which the stamens 



