COLOR IN PLANTS 151 



Summary 



In recapitulation, then, we may say that, aside from their direct physio- 

 logical value, many colors of animals are useful to their possessors in relation 

 to their environment or to their special life habits. Such colors we may 

 class as 



Protective, causing their possessors to harmonize in color with their envi- 

 ronment, and so escape their enemies ; 



Aggressive, rendering their possessors inconspicuous, and so enabling 

 them to capture their prey ; 



Alluring, serving to attract the prey of the forms which show the alluring 

 coloration ; 



Warning coloration, conspicuous, and rendering dangerous, noxious, or 

 ill-flavored species readily recognizable, thus saving them from attack ; 



Mimetic coloration, by which an edible species is protected from its 

 enemies by its resemblance to a dangerous, noxious, or ill-flavored species 

 (protective mimicry); or by which a species is brought to resemble its 

 habitual prey or some species of which its prey is not afraid (aggressive 

 mimicry) ; 



Signals and recognition marks, by which individuals of a species may 

 recognize their fellows or may warn them of impending danger ; 



Confusing coloration, which disconcerts an enemy by the startling differ- 

 ence between the conspicuousness of the individual when in motion and its 

 inconspicuous character when at rest ; and 



Sexual coloration. 



Color in plants. 



The color phenomena in plants are as interesting as 

 those in animals, and are as intimately connected with 

 the theory of evolution. They are, however, not so well 

 understood in some of their aspects. We will consider 

 the colors of plants, chiefly of plant blossoms, only as 

 related to insects. It seems to be wholly probable that 

 the colors of blossoms have been developed in connection 

 with insects. The bright colors serve to attract insects 

 and the insect visits are an advantage to the plants. 



