NECTARY. 99 



pollen, the corolla fades away, and either falls off or remains 

 withered upon the stalk ; the juices which nourished it then go 

 to the germ, to assist in its growth and enable it to become a 

 perfect fruit. 



Another use of the corolla seems to be, to furnish a resting 

 place for insects in search of honey. 



The corolla is supposed by Darwin to answer the same pur- 

 pose to the stamens and pistils, as the lungs in the animal sys- 

 tem ; each petal being furnished with an artery which conveys 

 the vegetable blood to its extremities, exposing it to the light 

 and air under a delicate moist membrane ; this vegetable blood, 

 according to his theory, is then collected and returned in cor- 

 respondent veins, for the sustenance of the anthers and stigmas, 

 and for the purpose of secreting honey. 



Bernardin de Saint Pierre,* author of the interesting story of 

 Paul and Virginia, thinks the corolla is intended to collect the 

 rays of the sun, and to reflect them upon the stamens and pistils 

 which are placed in the centre. 



After all our enquiries into the uses of the corolla, we arc 

 obliged to acknowledge that it appears not as important, in 

 the economy of vegetation, as many less showy organs. It 

 seems in reality designed chiefly to beautify and enliven crea- 

 tion, by the variety and elegance of its forms, the brilliancy of 

 its colouring, and the sweetness of its perfume. 



..:* Nectary. 



In many flowers there is an organ called the nectary, which 

 secretes a peculiar fluid, the honey of the plant ; this fluid con- 

 stitutes the principal food of bees, and various other species of 

 insects. 



Linnaeus thought the nectary to be separate from the co- 

 rolla ; and every part of the flower which was not stamen, pis. 

 til, calyx or corolla, he called by this name : his remarks on 

 this subject have given rise to more severe criticisms than al- 

 most any other part of his system. It is thought he applied 

 the term nectary too extensively, and in too vague a manner. 

 We cannot assert that the nectary is a separate organ from the 

 corolla, because it often makes a part of it ; although some- 

 times it is entirely separate. 



The nectary seems not to be confined to any particular part 

 of the flower. Sometimes, it is a mere cavity, as in the lily. 



* This ingenious author remarks, that man seems the only animal sensible 

 to the sweet impressions, made by the colour and odour of plants upon the 

 senses ; but we think he has asserted too much. Do not the brute creation 

 seem to enjoy, by the sense of smelling, the freshness of the verdant fields ? 

 But man is very apt to say, " See all things for my use." 



Nectary Its useNot always a separate organ. 



