FLOWERS OF HIGH ALTITUDES 81 



creep along the ground under bunches of leaves 

 crowded so thickly that they make a permanent 

 shade. No matter at what angle the sun darts its 

 rays, they do not reach that stem nor diminish its 

 store of food and drink stored up for the plant's 

 summer sustenance. The leaves are thick to hold 

 their moisture and narrow not to present too much 

 surface to the sun, and on the angle of each leaf is 

 a sharp tooth to pierce the tongue of any marauding 

 animal. With such an excellent foundation, Mrs. 

 Primrose can well support her seed-making parts. 



She raises them upon a slender stalk and groups 

 them together at the top. All the flowers do not 

 come out at once, but the lower ones first, just as in 

 our cultivated primrose or cowslip. Her petals are 

 a deep rose, with a yellow center. Sometimes a 

 wine color ring outlines this yellow; and with the 

 pale stamens enclosed, it gives you the impression 

 of an eye looking straight at you, an eye friendly 

 and yet appealing, so that you instantly fall in love 

 with the flower and spontaneously quote Words- 

 worth. 



However, Mrs. Primrose does not care for human 

 impressions. She is set on captivating the bug's 

 fancy. She succeeds because his taste in color and 

 form is the same as ours. She is very careful of her 

 seed-making organs. As the sun goes down, she 

 furls her petals tight around them, to open again 



