42 AS CALIFORNIA FLOWERS GROW 



CHAPTER III. 



SOME FANTASTIC FLOWERS. 



Some plants, in developing their blossoms so that 

 the bug and the bird must aid them, have achieved 

 fantastic shapes. Just notice the Bleeding Heart, 

 with its symmetrical roseate flower. The calyx is 

 inconspicuous, its two sepals soon falling off. The 

 four petals are in two pairs, quite differently shaped. 

 The outer pair form the red heart which attracts 

 the insect; the inner pair is spoon-like, with the 

 tops of the bowls joined, forming a protecting dome 

 over the anthers and stigma. Separate the pairs of 

 petals with a pin and see the construction for your- 

 self. 



Is it possible for a bug to crawl down to the 

 dishes of honey without getting its head "powdered 

 with gold"? And, with such ravenous appetites as 

 these little creatures seem to possess, it is about cer- 

 tain that he will visit the next dangling red heart. 

 Then, his powdered head will brush the two lobes 

 of the stigma, and he has paid for his refreshments. 

 Watch the insects that linger around the Bleeding 

 Heart. Can they feast from her table without going 

 inside? See how the plant waves the blossoms on 



