184 



COLOURS OF FLOWERS AS A MEANS OF ATTRACTING ANIMALS. 



{Richardia cethiopica, Anthurium SeherzerianuDi), and the Bromeliacese {Nidn- 

 lariaj Lamprococcus, Pitcairnia). In some Proteaceae, e.g. Profea globosa, the 

 uppermost foliage-leaves are grouped into a large outer envelope which surrounds 

 the spherical golden-yellow inflorescence, and these crowded leaves are coloured 



Fig. 252. —Colour-contrasts in Flowers. 



* Uraliellate raceme of Lobularia iiiinimulance/olia with flowers and young fruits. 2 a single young flower of the same plant. 

 8 A young fruit of the same plant with two of the enlarged white petals attached to it. < Flower spike of Lavandula 

 Stcechas ending in a crest of empty blue bracts. 6 Umbellate raceme of Alyssurn citneattnii with young flat open flowers 

 in the centre and old closed flowers at the circumference. 6 Petal of a young flatly-opened flower of the same plant. 

 7 Petal of an old closed flower of the same plant. 8 Raceme of Muscari comosum ; the upper long-stalked flowers crowded 

 into a head are sterile. 9 Inflorescence of Tri/oliuin badhtm; the upper young flowers are light yellow, the old lower 

 drooping flowers are dark brown, i" A branch from the inflorescence of Ilalimocneinis mollissivia ; the erect bladder-like 

 appendages of the anthers protrude from the insignificant perianth and look like petals. 11 A single stamen of Ilalimoc- 

 iiemis moUifisuna ; the connective rises above the anther in the form of a bladder-shaped appendiige. i- Inflorescence of 

 Cornus fiorida surrounded by four large white bracts, is Cornflower (Centaurea Cyamts); the small flowers of the disc 

 are surrounded by large fuimel-shaped sterile flowers. " Raceme of Keniera saxatilis; the ovaries in the centre of the 

 old flowers are darkly coloured and surrouiuled by the enlarged petals, is Inflorescence of the umbelliferous Orlaya 

 grandijiora; the peripheral flowers radiate outwards, i^ A single radiating flower of the same plant. i7 Umbellate 

 raceme of the Candytuft (Iberis amara); the outwardly-directed petals of the peripheral flowers are twice as large as 

 those which arc turned towards tlie centre of the inflorescence. ^, s, 11 are somewhat magnified; the others natural size. 



blue in contrast to the lower, scantier foliage, which has a gi'ass-green colour, in 

 order that the inflorescence should stand out the better. Even the stalks of flowers 

 and inflorescences whan brilliantly coloured may be seen from a distance and so 



