184 



COLOURS OF FLOWERS AS A MEANS OF ATTRACTING ANIMALS. 



(Richardia cethiopica, Anthurium Scherzerianum), and the Bromeliaceae (Nidu- 

 laria, Lamprococcus, Pitcairnia). In some Proteaceae, e.g. Protect globosa, the 

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

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



Fig. 252. Colour-contrasts in Flowers. 



i Umbellate raceme of Lobularia nummularicefolia with flowers and young fruits. 2 A single young flower of the same plant. 

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

 Stoechas 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. Petal of a young flatly-opened flower of the same plant. 

 t Petal of an old closed flower of the same plant. Raceme of Muscari comosum ; the upper long-stalked flowers crowded 

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

 drooping flowers are dark brown. 10 A branch from the inflorescence of Halimocnemis mollissima ; the erect bladder-like 

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

 nemis mollissima ; the connective rises above the anther in the form of a bladder-shaped appendage. 12 Inflorescence of 

 Cornus florida surrounded by four large white bracts. i> Cornflower (Centaurea Cyanus); the, small flowers of the disc 

 are surrounded by large funnel-shaped sterile flowers. 1* 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. 16 A single radiating flower of the same plant, if 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. %, ', n 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 whan brilliantly coloured may be seen from a distance and so 



