Study of a Geranium. 



65 



Two equal petals on the upper side are smaller than the 

 others and often slightly different from them in color. 

 Find between these petals a small hole extending down into 

 the stem. Split the stem to find its depth. Taste the 

 liquid in it. It is nectar and the hole is a nectary. Do you 

 think a bee could get the nectar? Would the difference 

 between the up- 

 per petals and 

 the others make 

 it easier for an 

 insect to find 

 the nectar tube ? 

 Evidently gera- 

 aniums prepare 

 nectar for cer- 

 tain insects and 

 make it easy for 

 them to find it. 

 Were the corol- 

 las green would 

 it be so easy to 

 see them at a 

 distance ? Is their color helpful to the insects ? Is it not 

 reasonable to suppose that the visits of these insects are 

 beneficial to the flower ? In order to understand how insects 

 can help flowers make seeds you must know more about 

 the work of stamens and pistils. Many observations and 

 much experimenting have proved that ovules cannot become 



Fig. 50. a. Bud of eschscholtzia with the removed calyx-cap 

 above, b. Flower of the same with two petals removed, oue of 

 which is seen below bearing stamens at its base. c. Field morning- 

 glory, the petals completely united. Above the corolla is split to 

 show the stamens. 



