WHITE CAMPION 



Stamens. — In sterile flowers usually ten; filaments 

 white, threadlike; anthers white. 



Pistil. — Ovary one-celled; styles five. 



Fruit. — An inflated capsule, with unbent valves at the 

 apex which curve outward when ripe. Seeds many, small, 

 grayish brown, beaded with 

 fine tubercles. 



Pollinated by night-flying 

 moths. Nectar-bearing. 



The study of a night- 

 blooming plant is always 

 interesting because in it 

 nature shows so clearly, 

 that he who runs may 

 read, her aims and hopes. 

 Every flower expresses the 

 hope and expectation of 

 the plant, and plants that 

 bloom in the night must 

 conform to their environ- 

 ment. Usually the blos- 

 soms are white so as to 

 utilize all the light there 

 is — for white can be dis- 

 tinguished when other colors are dimmed. Then they 

 are fragrant; winged night wanderers, it is known, 

 smell much better than they see. Then, too, the flower 

 must be protected against crawling night marauders 

 who might eat the nectar but would not fertilize the 

 blossom, so the stem is beset with sticky hairs, a very 

 real defense and fortification against slugs. To re- 

 ward the real guests of the evening nectar is pro- 

 vided, and so equipped the Night-Flowering Cam- 



49 



White Campion. Lychnis dlba 



