66 MYSTERIES OF THE FLOWERS 



opened buds showed a number of species where the 

 early matured stigma actually protruded through 

 a tiny orifice in precisely the right position to strike 

 the pollen-dusted body of the bee, as he forced his 

 tongue through the aperture. Since the above was 

 written I have noted the larger bumble-bees upon 

 the blossoms. These insects have a different method 

 of approach, hanging beneath the flower, the anthers 

 being clapped against their thorax at the juncture 

 of the wings, instead of the abdomen, as in the 

 smaller bee."* 



Other flowers of this class are the red baneberry, 

 the blue cohosh, and the blood-root. Doubtless 

 many more plants may be found to add the list, 

 but by far the larger number of flowers perfect 

 their pollen before their stig- 

 mas. 



STAMENS DEVELOPING 

 BEFORE STIGMAS 



(Called "Proterandrous 

 Dichogamy"") 



WILD GERANIUM; CRANESBILL 

 Geranium maculatum (May-July) 



A very common flower 

 which furnishes us with an 



*My Studio Neighbours, by William 

 Hamilton Gibson. 



WILD GERANIUM 



Cranesbill 



