124 MYSTERIES OF THE FLOWERS 



disclosing the slits in the pollen-chamber, and the 

 little spring catches, but hiding the anthers from 

 view. We give one sketch showing a view of the 

 floret from below, and another showing a horizon- 

 tal section, cutting pollen-chambers, colmnn, and 

 ovary. 



Now that we know the construction of the flower, 

 we will next find out the purposes of all these 

 elaborate arrangements. Let us go forth early 

 some summer morning to our milkweed plant and 

 watch its complex machinerjr in operation. 



The bees and butterflies are there before us, bend- 

 ing down the flowers with their weight. They clasp 

 the neck of the column with their hind legs and 

 thus, hanging head downward, they curve their 

 bodies and reach upward into the nectar horns for 

 food; then, on leaving, they loosen their hold, and 

 their hind legs slip down into the little pockets of 

 the pollen-chambers, where they are caught and 

 held more or less firmly. Here is a predicament. 

 The insects struggle and pull till their hind legs slip 

 farther and farther down the slit, and at last come 

 out, bringing a pair of pollen-chops snapped fast 

 by the spring-catch, as shown in the lower sketch. 

 But as soon as the pollen masses are withdrawn their 

 little connecting bow dries and curls in such a man- 

 ner as to fold them, one upon another, and thus 



