SOME GROUPED FLOWERS 61 



said to reduce ulcers and tumors. There is so much 

 mucilage in its seeds that it is extracted and used 

 for papering and also for stiffening cotton goods. 

 The most common species in California is lanceo- 

 lata, from the shape of the leaves. It is a native of 

 England. There, the children call it "bullies" or 

 "sodgers" (soldiers) and play a game knocking off 

 its flower heads. Try the game. Has the change 

 of climate made the ribbed stalk any more resistant? 



Another plant that crowds its perfect flowers close 

 together so as to make a f#r-distance appeal is the 

 Barberry. Human advertisers have learned by ex- 

 perimentation that the color combination which 

 can be seen farthest and clearest is yellow and black. 

 Notice the signboards as you ride along. The Bar- 

 berry approaches this combination as nearly as she 

 can. Against her dark, glossy leaves, she poses 

 groups of yellow flowers, and a bird or a bee must 

 be blind indeed not to catch the flashed invitation. 

 In the individual blossom, the action of the stamens 

 is very interesting. If a bug is feeding at the honey 

 glands and hits the base of the stamens, as he is sure 

 to do, they close in toward the pistil; and each 

 anther at their summits opens a little valve, which 

 is swung on a hinge, and empties its pollen. Perhaps 

 you can set trie stamens in motion by using a pin. 

 Try it. 



With such a successful color advertisement, the 



