8 MYSTERIES OF THE FLOWERS 



which it obviously could not apply. Instances were 

 pointed out where flowers bore stamens and no 

 pistils, or pistils and no stamens. Others proved 

 to ripen and shed their pollen before their pistils 

 were ripe to receive it. Others had their pollen 

 concealed in little traps which closed when the 



Strawberry 



Cranesbill 



CROSS-FERTILISATION 

 Theory of Darwin, 1859 



Rose 

 Pogonia 



bee entered, and opened only when he withdrew 

 and dusted him with a golden shower when too 

 late for him to carry it to the pistil. In the sketch 

 are shown three flowers embodying the objections 

 to the theory of Sprengel. 



So the half-truth was rejected as wholly dis- 

 proved, the theory of Sprengel was discredited, 

 and the mysteries of the flowers remained obscure 

 for nearly another hundred years. 



Grew and Sprengel had partly unwrapped the 



