184 



COLOURS OF FLOWERS AS A MEANS OF ATTRACTING ANIMALS. 



{Richardia cethiopica, Anthurium Scherzerianwm), and the Bromeliacese {Nidu- 

 laria, Lamprococcus, Pitcairnia). In some Proteacese, e.g. Protea globosa, the 

 uppermost foliage-leaves are grouped into a large outer envelope which surrounds 

 the spherical golden-yellow inflorescence, and these crowded leaves are coloured 



Fig. 252.— Colour-contrasts in Flowers. 



I Umbellate raceme of Lobularia nnmmularicefolia witli flowers and young fruits. 2 a single youug flower of the same plant. 

 » A young fruit of the same plant with two of the enlarged white petals attached to it. * Flower spike of Lavandula 

 Stoechas ending in a crest of empty blue bracts. ^ Umbellate raceme of Alyssum cuneatum with young flat open flowers 

 iu tlie centre and old closed flowers at the circumference. 6 Petal of a young flatly-opened flower of the same plant. 

 7 Petal of an old closed flower of the same plant. 8 Raceme of Muscari comosiivi ; the upper long-stalked flowers crowded 

 into a head are sterile. 9 Inflorescence of Trifolium badium ; tlie upper young flowers are light yellow, the old lower 

 drooping flowers are dark brown. 10 a branch from the inflorescence of Halimoenemis moUissima ; the erect bladder-like 

 appendages of tlie anthers protrude from the insignificant perianth and look like petals. " A single stamen of Halitnoc- 

 nemis moUissima ; the connective rises above the anther in the form of a bladder-shaped appendage. 12 Inflorescence of 

 Cornus fiorida surrounded by four large white bracts, is Cornflower (Centaurea Cyanus); the small flowers of the disc 

 are surrounded by large funnel-shaped sterile flowers. 1* Raceme of Kernera saxatilis; the ovaries in the centre of the 

 old flowers are darkly coloured and surrounded by the enlarged petals, is Inflorescence of the umbelliferous Orlaya 

 grandiflora; the peripheral flowers radiate outwards. i« A single radiating flower of the same plant. "Umbellate 

 raceme of the Candytuft (Iheris amara); the outwardly-directed petals of the peripheral flowers are twice as large as 

 those which are turned towards the centre of the inflorescence. 2, «, n are somewhat magnified ; the others natural size. 



blue in contrast to the lower, scantier foliage, which has a grass-green colour, in 

 order that the inflorescence should stand out the better. Even the stalks of flowers 

 and inflorescences whsn brilliantly coloured may be seen from a distance and so 



