FIVE CONSPICUOUS PLANT FAMILIES. 17 



tiger lily of the fields. The fragrant, drooping bells of the lily- 

 of-the-valley would cling to the minds of many. But whatever 

 the form of the lily that its name is associated with, it is invari- 

 ably graceful and beautiful. As a family it is singularly with- 

 out obnoxious qualities. 



THE PULSE FAMILY. 



Papilion a cece. 



The butterfly-shaped or papilionaceous corolla serves readily 

 to identify a member of the pulse family. It is almost as un- 

 failing as the nose of the Hohenzollerns. But we poor mortals 

 may not flatter ourselves that it has been thus considerate to 

 facilitate our study of the genus. The family has a very subtle 

 way of achieving its ends in this world. 



It has been observed that flowers that are dependent upon 

 insects for cross-fertilization have usually an irregularly shaped 

 corolla. It is so with the pulse family. 



They offer no comfortable seat or resting place for Master 

 Bee and therefore force the poor fellow to let the weight of his 

 whole body knock against the blossom as he thumps about in 

 search of nectar. It is for this little push that the flower has 

 been planning. The stigma that was enclosed in the keel is 

 knocked out, and the pollen grains that were already on the 

 style from early-maturing anthers are dropped upon the bee's 

 back. Little suspecting the trick that has been played upon 

 him, he saunters off to another member of the family, as he is 

 again allured by the irregular corolla and the purplish pink 

 that is his favourite colour. As before, he knocks about for a seat 

 and pushes out the stigma, which then greedily receives the 

 pollen with which his back is covered from his last visit. In 

 this way the pulse family manages the little matter of cross- 

 fertilization. It has the true method of allowing others to do 

 its work. And that its system is good is proved by the vigour 

 and freshness of its growth. 



The flowers are always arranged in fives, or multiples of five. 



