CHAPTER XIV 

 THE COLORS OF NORTH x\MERICAN FLOWERS 



THE distribution of coloration in our flora is a question 

 of much interest, but one which up to the present time 

 had received very httle attention. Some years ago I 

 began an inquiry as to how many flowers there are of each color 

 in the flora of North America. In northeastern America, north 

 of Temiessee and east of the Rocky Mountains, there have been 

 described 4,020 species of flowering plants, or Angiosperms. 

 Partly by direct examination and partly by reference to various 

 systematic works, I have tabulated the entire number according 

 to the predominant colors of their flowers. I find that in the 

 area named there are 1,244 green, 956 white, 801 yellow, 260 

 red, 434 purple, and 325 blue flowers. In every hundred species 

 there are 30.9 green, 23.8 white, 19.9 yellow, 6.4 red, 10.9 pur- 

 ple, and 8 blue flowers. Their distribution among the different 

 flower series is shown in the following table: 



The green, white, and yellow flowers number 3,001, or three- 

 fourths of the entire number; while the red, purple, and blue 



'221 



