68 WONDERS OF PLANT LIFE 



fertilisation of their blossoms. It is not easy to 

 avoid the conclusion when one considers all the 

 marvellous arrangements which have been entered 

 into, presumably with this object in view. The 

 fact, too, that in so many cases the male and 

 female organs in the flower mature at different 

 times suggests that self-fertilisation is not wanted. 

 Not the least amazing feature is the variety of 

 the agents which are induced to help the plant 

 in the distribution of its pollen. Insects, spiders, 

 birds even the wind and water act as emissaries 

 in this marriage of the plant. The intricacies of 

 some of the relationships are so astonishing that 

 it must always be a matter for conjecture as to 

 how such things could come about. 



Overshadowing all else in connection with the 

 cross-fertilisation of flowers is the work accom- 

 plished by insects. It will be no exaggeration to 

 say that hundreds of thousands of species em- 

 bracing nearly all classes are actively engaged in 

 pollen transference, although it is likely that the 

 insects are in total ignorance of the services which 

 they render. It is evident that it is necessary for 

 the plant to offer some inducement, so that it 

 may appear to be worth the while of the unwitting 

 helper to visit the flower. In most cases this 

 attraction is to be found in the nectar which the 



