PERFECT FLOWERS 37 



in the axis of three 

 narrow leaves, grows 

 a tassel of flower buds. One 

 or two of these open at a 

 'time, disclosing a triangular 

 blossom of heavenly blue 

 petals and a cluster of golden 

 stamens. The anthers are 

 widely removed from the central stigma, 

 which is thus likely to receive the first 

 touch of the visitor. The spiderwort is 

 said to be unquestionably cross-fertil- 

 ised by the earlier of the queen bumble- 



. T , 7 SPIDERWORT 



bees, Bombus JPennsylvanicus and Bom- 

 bus Separatus. In the centre of this 

 flower will be discovered a tuft of hairy growth. 

 Each of the six filaments is bearded, and the whole 

 cluster forms this little tuft, which may have come 

 into existence as a barrier to prevent crawling in- 

 sects, who have touched the anthers, from climbing 

 the style to the stigma and self- fertilising the flower. 



HEDGE BINDWEED Convolvulus sepium 

 June-August 



This is the bride among the morning-glories, for 

 its trumpet, pistil and pollen are all white. The 



