THE WILD CAMOMILE 



studying the plant for the preparation of this 

 chapter. 



In Fig. 6 (Plate 4) part of a plant is shown 

 photographed about mid-day. In Fig. 7 (Plate 5) 

 the plant is shown again photographed about 

 six p.m. Note how the white florets have now 

 turned back towards the stem. Later at night, 

 or in the darkness caused by an approaching 

 storm, they turn back still more. Now, the field 

 daisy, an almost identical kind of blossom, closes 

 up its white florets at night to protect its central 

 florets from cold and wet. Why does the camo- 

 mile act in an exactly opposite manner ? The 

 answer is, to protect its florets from dew and wet. 

 The central florets of the field daisy are arranged 

 upon a much flatter surface than the camomile, and 

 its florets are more upright, so that rain and dew 

 could accumulate in the tubes and wash out their 

 pollen and nectar. Therefore, the daisy closes over 

 them its outer ray florets. But the tubular florets of 

 the camomile do not stand upright when they open, 

 but lie more or less horizontally, and, moreover, 

 the central mass of tubular florets is more conical 

 and larger than that of the field daisy. Conse- 

 quently, the outer florets of the camomile could 

 not completely cover the central mass if they 

 closed over as do those of the daisy, and then rain 

 drops that fell in would be driven into the horizon- 

 tal lower tubes. But by turning the ray florets 

 downwards these conduct the water, which might 

 fall on the somewhat conical centre, to the ground. 

 Furthermore, the camomile takes no risks with 



15 



