Ch. XII.] THE COROLLA. 73 



Uses of the Corolla. 



295. One important office of the corolla is to secure tTie sta- 

 aiens and pistils from all external injury, and to favour their 

 development. After the germ has become fertilized by the in- 

 fluence of the pollen, the corolla fades away, and either falls off, 

 or remains withered upon the stalk ; the juices which nourished 

 it then go to the germ, to assist in its growth, and enable it to be- 

 come a perfect fruit. Another use of the corolla seems to be 

 to furnish a resting-place for insects in search of honey. 



296. The corolla is supposed by Darwin, an English botanist, 

 to answer the same purpose to the stamens and pistils, as the 

 lungs in the -animal system; each petal being furnished with an 

 artery which conveys the vegetable blood to its extremities, ex- 

 posing it to the light and air. This vegetable blood, according 

 to this theory, is then collected and returned in correspondent 

 veins, for the sustenance of the anthers and stigmas, and for 

 the purpose of secreting honey. 



297. After all our inquiries into the uses of the corolla, we 

 are obliged to acknowledge that it appears not as important in 

 the economy of vegetation, as many less showy organs. It 

 seems chiefly designed to beautify and enliven creation by the 

 variety and elegance of its forms, the brilliancy of its colour- 

 ing, and the sweetness of its perfume. 



Nectary. 



29S. In many flowers there is an or^an called the nectary, 

 which secretes a peculiar lluid, the honey of the plant ; this 

 tluid constitutes the principal food of bees, and various othi 

 species of insects. 



299. The nectary seems not to be confined to any r particulai 

 part of the flower. Sometimes it is a mere cavity, as in the lily 



295. What are some of the uses of the corolla 1 



296. "What was Darwin's opinion of the use of the corolla 7 



297. For what does the corolla seem chiefly designed? 



298. What is the use of the nectary 7 



299. Is tke nectary confined to any particular part of the flower 1 



7 



