THE WELCOME OF THE FLOWERS 



417 



Photo by] 



FIG. 520. WOOD ANEMONE (Anemone nemorosa). 



[E. Step. 



A beautiful woodland spring flower. Flowers and leaves arise separately from a woody underground creeping stem. 



It has no petals, but the sepals are coloured to take their place. Although providing no nectar, the flowers are visited 



by insects who assist in cross-pollination. 



a handsome percentage of profit. In some strange way the plants have 

 learned that much of the food of ants consists of other insects, and that 

 it is good to be rooted within reasonable distance of a nest of ants ; for 

 the industrious and usually pugnacious little creatures climb trees and 

 other plants in search of insects that are fretting the leaves, and if at the 

 same time they can get a little of the sugar they so greatly desire, they 

 will make a point of patrolling the plant that supplies it, and for their 

 own ends keep it clear of insects other than their own domestic Aphides. 

 We have mentioned several plants that produce these nectar-glands on the 

 leaf-stalks or stipules ; but it is stated that more than three thousand 

 species are known to make this provision for their ant friends. Some of the 

 Acacias not only make it worth the while of this patrol to remain on 

 duty, but they provide sentry-boxes for their convenience. Instead of 

 stipules, they produce a pair of large hollow spines in which a number of 

 ants can be, and are, housed. They take care also to produce nectar, 

 which is poured out by glands on the leaf-stalks, and some of them in 

 addition bear queer little bodies, formed of albuminous matter, at the 

 tips of the leaflets. These bodies are produced as food for the ants, 

 ii 9' 



