302 THE ASCENT OF MAN 



scents, the shapes, the sizes of flowers, are all the 

 gifts of Co-operation. The flower in every detail, in 

 fact, is a monument to the Co-operative Principle. 



Scarcely less singular are the Co-operations 

 among flowers themselves, the better to attract the 

 attention of the insect world. Many flowers are so 

 small and inconspicuous that insects might not con- 

 descend to notice them. But Altruism is always 

 inventive. Instead of dispersing their tiny florets 

 over the plant, these club together at single points, 

 so that by the multitude of numbers an imposing 

 show is made. Each of the associating flowers in 

 these cases preserves its individuality, and — as we 

 see in the Elder or the Hemlock — continues to 

 grow on its own flower-stalk. But in still more 

 ingenious species the partners to a floral advertise- 

 ment sacrifice their separate stems and cluster close 

 together on a common head. The Thistle, for 

 example, is not one flower, but a colony of flowers, 

 each complete in all its parts, but all gaining the 

 advantage of conspicuousness by densely packing 

 themselves together. In the Sunflowers and many 

 others the sacrifice is carried still further. Of the 

 multitude of florets clustered together to form the 

 mass of colour, a few cease the development of 

 the reproductive organs altogether, and allow their 

 whole strength to go towards adding visibility to 



