184 



COLOURS OF FLOWERS AS A MEANS OF AlTilACTING ANIMALS. 



(Richardia cethiopica, Anthurium Scherzerianum), and the Bromeliacese {Nidu- 

 laria, Lamprococcus, Pitcairnia). In some Proteaceaä, e.g. Protea globosa, the 

 uppermost foliage-leaves are grouped into a large outer envelope which surrounds 

 the spherical golden-yellow inflorescence, and these crowded leaves are coloured 



■H^ 



fig. 252. — Colour-contrasts in Flowers. 



1 Umbellate raceme of Lobularia mnnmularicefoUa with flowers and young fruits. 2 a single young flower of the same plant, 

 s A young fruit of the same plant with two of the enlarged white petals attached to it. * Flower spike of Lavandula 

 Staechas ending in a crest of empty blue bracts. * Umbellate raceme of Alyssum cuneatum with young flat open flowers 

 in the centre and old closed flowers at the circumference. 6 Petal of a young flatly-opened flower of the same plant. 

 7 Petal of an old closed flower of the same plant, s Raceme of Muscari comosum ; the upper long-stalked flowers crowded 

 into a head are sterile, s Inflorescence of Trifolium hadiwn ; the upper young flowers are light yellow, the old lower 

 drooping flowers are dark brown, lo A branch from the inflorescence of Halimocnemis mollissiiiia ; the erect bladder-like 

 appendages of the anthers protrude from the insignificant perianth and look like petals, n A single stamen of Halimoc- 

 nemis mollissiina ; the connective rises above the anther in the form of a bladder-shaped appendage, i- Inflorescence of 

 Cornusflorida surrounded by four large white bracts. 13 Cornflower (Centaurea Cyanua); the small flowers of the disc 

 are surrounded by large funnel-shaped sterile flowers, i* Raceme of Kernera saxatilis; the ovaries in the centre of the 

 old flowers are darkly coloured and surrounded by the enlarged petals, is Inflorescence of the umbelliferous Orlaya 

 grandiflora ; the peripheral flowers radiate outwards. i« A single radiating flower of the same plant. i? Umbellate 

 raceme of the Candytuft {Iberis amara); the outwardly-directed petals of the peripheral flowers are twice as large as 

 those which are turned towards the centre of the inflorescence. 2 3 ii are somewhat magnified ; the others natural size. 



blue in contrast to the lower, scantier foliage, which has a grass-green colour, in 

 order that the inflorescence should stand out the better. Even the stalks of flowers 

 and inflorescences whsn brilliantly coloured may be seen from a distance and so 



