io8 FLOWERS OF THE CORNFIELDS 



sessed several good seeds, some only 1-3; but 105 large capsules 

 were produced when uncovered. 



The few capsules formed when the plant is covered up are due to 

 curling up of the petals when the stigma is covered with pollen. 

 The flowers are visited by Plusia, and by Humble-bees, and Rhingia 

 rostrata. 



The plant is not frequently visited, but when insects do visit it the 

 flower withers. For the secretion of the nectar certain atmospheric 

 conditions are needed, and insects perceive it by the odour. There is 

 a lip-like valve in the stigmatic cavity by which pollination is facilitated 

 in V. tricolor, but not in this plant, the opening of the stigma lacking 

 the lip, and it is curved inwards. The plant is self-pollinated soon 

 after the flower opens. The pollen grains are 4- or 5-sided prisms. 



The plant is dispersed by its own peculiar device, the valves of the 

 capsule opening and expelling the seeds, when dry, by an explosive 

 motion due to the shrivelling or drying up to which the parts are 

 subjected, 



Heart's Ease is a sand plant, which is especially characteristic of 

 sandy formations, and requires a sand soil, or sandy loam, or alluvium. 



The Queen of Spain Fritillary, and a Fly, Lauscania aen&a, feed on 

 it, also the High Brown Fritillary. 



The specific name arvensis was bestowed by Linnaeus to indicate 

 its predilection for arable ground. 



The names given to V. tricolor apply to this plant Beedy's Eyes, 

 Bleeding Heart, Buttery-entry, Call-me-to-you, Cat's-faces, Cull-me- 

 to-you, Face-and-Hood, Fancy Flamy, Garden Gate, Godfathers and 

 Godmothers, Heart's Ease, Heart seed, Herb Trinity, Jack-behind- 

 the-garden-gate, Jump-up-and-kiss-me, Kiss-me, Kitty-Run-the-Streets, 

 Leap-up-and-kiss-me, Live- (and Love-) -in-Idleness, Love-true, Meet- 

 her-i ; -th'- entry Kiss-her-i'-the-Buttery, Monkey's Face, Pance, Step- 

 mother, Three Faces in a Hood, Two-Faces-Under-the-Sun. 



Flamy was the name given because its colours are like the flame 

 in wood. Herb Trinity is given because of the three colours of the 

 flower. Shakespeare uses the name Love-in-idleness; 



Maidens call it Love-in-idleness. 



Midsummer-Nigh fs Dream. 



Miss Alcott, in Little Women, has the following: 



The story of panzy how the stepmother leaf sat up in her green chair in purple and 

 gold; how the two own children in gay yellow had each its little seat, while the step- 

 children in dull colours both sat on one small stool, and the poor little father in his red 

 nightcap was kept out of sight in the middle of the flower. 



