I 



HONEY GUIDES 



T is interesting 

 to observe the 

 markings up- 

 on the petals 

 of flowers 

 which serve 

 as honey 

 guides for the 

 bees. For 

 instance, in 

 the rhodo- 

 dendron the 

 stamens all 

 curl upwards, 

 and the richly 

 coloured 

 spots are 

 placed on the 



upper petals, to direct the bee where to alight. As 

 it passes down into the flower to obtain the honey 

 it is seeking, it cannot help brushing pollen off the 

 anthers, and thus, its hairy body becoming covered 

 with the powder, it carries it to the next flower it 

 enters, and ensures what is called cross fertilisation- 



83 



RHODODENDRON. 



