198 MYSTERIES OF THE FLOWERS 



Salvla Uglinosa 



Hedge Rind 

 Weed 



POLLEN 



Pollen is not all 

 alike. That from dif- 

 ferent plants differs 



Cup and Saucer Passion Flower muc jj m gj ze form and 



consistency. Grains 

 from the Marvel of 

 Peru measure .22 mil- 

 limetres, whilst those 

 of the forget-me-not 

 are only .0025 milli- 

 metres in diameter. 

 Under the microscope 

 they exhibit most as- 

 tonishing diversity of 

 form. As a rule they 

 are spherical or sphe- 

 roidal, that is, elon- 

 gated like footballs. 

 The pollen-grains of 

 some plants are cubi- 

 cal, and of others, do- 

 decahedrons. The pollen intended to be carried 

 by the wind has usually smooth grains, whilst those 

 destined to cling to insects bear points, spines, and 

 prickles, or else are bedaubed with a sticky and 

 adhesive coating known as "viscin." 



Morena Persica Musk Flower 

 VARIOUS POLLEN GRAINS 



