118 MYSTERIES OF THE FLOWERS 



tected the flower completely from its own pollen. 

 The stamens form an odd group, much resembling 

 a molar tooth w^th five prongs, and these prongs 

 grasp the pistil and hold fast till all the pollen is 

 shed. Then the whole "tooth" loosens and comes 

 away and the exposed stigma perfects. The jewel- 

 weed is visited by bees, and also by humming- 

 birds. 



This curious shedding of the stamens I have 

 found to occur also in another Impatiens flower, 

 which is sold by the nurserymen as a winter house- 

 plant. The flowers are bright pink in colour, and 

 bear five rounded petals, opening flat and wide; 

 hence they do not resemble, either in form or colour, 

 their native sister, the jewel-weed, but their stamens 

 have exactly the form and habits of those of the 

 latter flower. 



INSECT PRISONS 



It is not quite accurate to speak of friendly rela- 

 tions as existing between flowers and insects. As 

 a rule, the flower makes use of the insect with lofty 

 superiority, as man makes use of a beast of burden, 

 feeding him and bullying him to do its will. Some- 

 times the flower entraps its unsuspecting visitor 

 and holds him an unwilling prisoner. We have seen 

 how this happens in the case of the English Lords 



