I'OI.IJX.ITIOX 1K5 



Colour scr\'cs t<> ivudcr llowcrs attractixt- U> 

 insects, and to niakr ihcin conspicuous ; tlu- liracts, 

 petals, and scjjals of llowcrs arc usuall\' of sonic 

 li;^dit or dark colour (juitt- distinct from the i^reen 

 t< )ne ( if the loliam". 



It lias jjcen ascertained also that plants which 

 are pollinated In- ni<^ht-fl)'inL,^ nioth.s general!)' ha\-e 

 white or light-xcllow (lowers so as to be easily seen 

 in twili_L;ht. 



One of the most interesting of these night-jiol- 

 linati'd flowers is .V/Av/c nutans, the Xottingham 

 catchll)'. In the (la\'time the five narrow petals 

 are curled u|) and look dead and withered, but as 

 night comes on the\' change their position, and the 

 llower has the expanded shape of an alpine jjink. 

 In this open condition it is \isited b\' the moths 

 which, fl)ing from one flower to another, transfer 

 the pollen, and thus accomplish at night what more 

 freciueiitl}- occurs in the sunlight ; at daybreak the 

 petals roll up once more, and one would again sup- 

 pose the flower to he dead ; but no, it will continue 

 to open at nightfall until some moth flnall)- suc- 

 ceeds in pollinating its blossom. A small species 

 of moth ' \isits this catchfl)' in order to deposit its 



' l'>iantluuiia alhiiiuutila. 



