The Fascination of Flowers [ 303 



GARDEN GERANIUMS BUTTERFLIES' FAVORITE 



On no other flower will you see a more obvious nectar well; 

 that of the geranium extends almost the whole length of the 

 flower stalk. The long narrow nectar tube explains why you often 

 see butterflies on geraniums; this shape is especially suitable for 

 the long-tongued insects. 



Some of these plants are called "horseshoe" geraniums because 

 of the horseshoe pattern on many of the leaves. Botanically they 

 are not true geraniums, being the descendants of the pelargonium 

 a plant that was brought to England from South Africa more 

 than two hundred years ago. These African plants were the ances- 

 tors of many of our popular garden geraniums. Other varieties 

 have been bred; Luther Bur bank, for example, created the now 

 popular crinkled-leaf species from a single wild geranium plant 

 that did not have the customary smooth-edged leaves. 



Seeds Spread by Explosion: Some geraniums have depended for 

 so long on man for planting that they have almost lost the 

 power of producing seed. However, in the single blossoms you may 

 sometimes discover the ovary changed into a long beaklike seed 

 pod a feature that reveals its relationship to the wild geranium. 

 The seeds are dispersed by an explosive action of the pod. 



How Geraniums Open: It is interesting to watch geranium flow- 

 ers opening. Several buds are grouped together in a nest of spe- 

 cialized leaves known as "bracts." Besides having this protection, 

 each bud is individually guarded by its own sepals. As the flower 

 stalk grows longer and droops from the weight of the buds, the 

 bracts often fall off. In each mass of drooping buds, the ones in 

 the center open first. It sometimes happens that by the time 

 those on the outside are in bloom the center flowers have begun 

 to wither. 



NASTURTIUMS AND THEIR REMARKABLE METHOD 

 OF POLLINATION 



The most remarkable aspect of the nasturtium is its special 

 method of pollination. The five beautiful petals are set around 

 the mouth of the long tube leading to the nectar well. The two 



