122 WONDERS OF PLANT LIFE 



of the essential organs, but lose their whiteness 

 and become green and leaf-like in appearance. 

 Much the same process goes on in the case of the 

 Hydrangea, a plant which, it is well known, sur- 

 rounds its inconspicuous flowers with showy 

 bracts. These bracts remain for a long time 

 after the flower has faded, finally becoming as 

 green as the leaves of the plant itself. More- 

 over, there are certain species of plants in which 

 the coloured parts of the flowers gradually develop 

 from very green material. This is seen in the case 

 of some of the Guelder Roses (Viburmtm], where 

 the undeveloped floral appendages practically 

 perform the offices ol leaves during the early 

 stages of their existence. 



The conspicuous and often attractively col- 

 oured sepals and petals of the flower are, after 

 all, but of small importance when compared with 

 the organs which go to fill up the centre of the 

 typical bloom. We may, perhaps, regard the 

 calyx and corolla in the light of advertising 

 agents whose business it is to spread abroad the 

 knowledge of the existence of the concern which 

 they envelop. As is so well known, the essential 

 organs of the plant consist of the stamens and 

 carpels, these latter forming collectively the pistil. 

 It is the duty of the stamens to produce the pollen 



