RUUBECKIA FULGIDA. BRILLIANT CONE-FLOWER. 59 



same general principles exist. What are called the scales of 

 the receptacle are really floral bracts, which in some cases are 

 wholly obliterated in the drawing in of the spiral coil to form 

 the compound head. In this genus Rudbcckia these scales or 

 bracts are very prominent in the centre of the flower, and it is 

 not till the divisions of the little florets are ready to expand that 

 we see them above the tips of the scales. Again in some com- 

 posites that have a sort of spicate habit, the plant will complete 

 its growth before any flowers expand, and then it commences 

 the blossoming from the top downwards ; while others flower 

 from below upwards as the flower shoot grows. These varying 

 phases of growth also have a counterpart in these single heads. 

 Sometimes there is more activity in the centre of the flower than 

 in the circumference, and these varying phases make differences 

 in the sexual characters. In some it results in giving the ray 

 florets an advantage ; in Rudbcckia the ray will be found quite 

 barren, rarely producing the vestige of a pistil, and no sign of a 

 stamen ; while the central or disk florets are perfecdy herma- 

 phrodite, and alone bear perfect seed. 



The development of the florets in our present species, R. 

 fulgida, is very interesting. The corolla appears to be forced 

 open by the growth of the pistil, which as it elongates, pushes 

 on before it an immense quantity of beautiful yellow pollen. 

 The first knowledge we have of the opening of the flower is 

 from the appearance of this pollen through the divisions of the 

 corolla. This profusion of pollen seems very welcome to a 

 large number of insects, is collected at once, and so completely 

 that it is only by putting a flower under protection that the 

 pretty little crown of yellow can be seen and the progress of the 

 opening florets traced. When it is remembered that a single 

 grain of pollen is sufficient to fertilize a single ovule, which 

 finally becomes the seed, one is lost in wonder that so much 

 effort should be spent on its production. It may be in some 

 way connected with the plant's own good, or it may be the 

 result of a far-reaching Omnipotence making the plant work for 



