76 WONDERS OF PLANT LIFE 



in the case of the Pea. In this flower the stamens 

 and pistil are contained in a process formed by 

 two petals joined together, generally spoken of 

 as the keel. At a certain stage in the develop- 

 ment of the blossom, the anthers discharge their 

 sticky pollen into the cavity at the tip of the 

 keel. Now it is just at this time that the Pea 

 makes its greatest effort to attract attention ; 

 the standard is fully spread, the fragrance given 

 out is at its strongest, whilst the supply of nectar 

 is all in readiness for the expected visitor. At 

 last the bee alights, taking up its position on the 

 two lateral petals while it prepares to feast at 

 the banquet. The weight of the insect at once 

 depresses the keel of the flower, and the style, 

 being a fixture, is forced through the hole at the 

 end of the process. Now the end of the style has 

 been provided with a brush, and this in its passage 

 through the conical part of the keel becomes 

 plentifully laden with pollen. Naturally the 

 underneath part of the bee is well dusted with 

 the yellow grains, and the stigma of the next 

 flower the insect calls at will be certain to receive 

 a share of pollen from the last bloom visited. 



By an equally ingenious device the Sage blossom 

 ensures that the bee shall not fail to act as an 

 agent for the transmission of its pollen to another 



