THE PLANT 



49 



When flowers fit themselves to insect pollination, they 

 can no longer use the wind, and are helpless if insects do 

 not visit them. They therefore cunningly resort to two 

 chief means to make sure of the visits of insects. First, 

 they provide a sweet nectar as a repast for the insect 

 visitor. The nectar is a sugary solution found in the bot- 

 tom of the flower and is used by the visitor as food or to 



FIG. 36. BEES CARRYING POLLEN 



make honey. Second, flowers advertise to let the insect 

 world know that they have something for it. The adver- 

 tising is done by means either of showy colors or of fra- 

 grant perfume. Insects have wonderful powers of smell. 

 You may hereafter know that showy or fragrant flowers 

 are advertising the presence either of nectar or pollen (to 

 make beebread) and that they are also dependent upon 

 insects for pollination. 



