114 MYSTERIES OF THE FLOWERS 



amine it under the microscope we would find that 

 it is an ammunition forbidden by the rules of mod- 

 ern warfare, for its grains are more or less con- 

 nected by delicate filaments, like the chain-shot of 

 olden times ; but this arrangement makes the grains 

 more likely to adhere to the body or entangle the 

 legs of the friendly foe. 



There are doubtless other flowers, yet to be dis- 

 covered, which throw out their pollen in an explo- 

 sive manner. 



A less impetuous flower is the barberry. 



BARBERRY Berberis vulgaris 

 May-June 



Each little yellow flower resembles the moun- 

 tain laurel in the situa- 

 tion of pistil and sta- 

 mens; but these latter 

 are not caught back 

 and held in little pock- 

 ets, and when in action 

 they do not violently 

 throw their pollen. 

 They are not cata- 

 pults, acting with a 

 spring, but, more re- 

 BARBERRY markablc still, they are 



