SECRET OF THE CHARM OF FLOWERS 137 



it is the colour of the most important feature, and, 

 we may say, of the very soul in man. 



Some purple flowers stand next in our regard 

 on account of their nearness in colour to the pure 

 blue. The wild hyacinth, blue-bottle, violet, and 

 pansy, and some others, will occur to every one. 

 These are the purple flowers in which blue pre- 

 dominates, and on that account have the same 

 expression as the blue. The purples in which red 

 predominates are akin in expression to the reds, 

 and are associated with flesh-tints and blood. 

 And here it may be noted that the blue and blue- 

 purple flowers, which have the greatest charm for 

 us, are those in which not only the colour of the 

 eye but some resemblance in their form to the iris, 

 with its central spot representing the pupil, appears. 

 For example, the flax, borage, blue geranium, 

 periwinkle, forget-me-not, speedwell, pansy and 

 blue pimpernel, are actuaUy more to us than some 

 larger and handsomer blue flowers, such as the 

 blue-bottle, vipers' bugloss, and succory, and of 

 blue flowers seen in masses. 



With regard to the numerous blue and purple- 

 blue flowers which we aU admire, or rather for 

 which we aU feel so great an affection, we find 

 that in many cases their very names have been 



