OPENINn OK TIIK PASSAOK TO TIIK INTKIUOU oK rili: Kl.oWKIt. '211 



In bilabiate corollas, althongli tin' iiiib\i(hi.'il |mft.nviiry hi^ikhI ilcul, I he imlniciilio 

 feativation is constant, thouj^h nmncrous UKxlilicationH obtain wiiicii cannot be 

 describeil at length hero, 'i'wo fairly i"re(nuint casus, however, nmst be (ii^Hcribcil, 

 appertaining to the ringent and |)ors()nii.te corollas, (o bo rcsrcrrcd to by iiiiil by. 

 In the riiigcnt corolla tho npwardly-bcnt median lull(^ of i\w lower li|i is phieed bke 

 a liil in Tront of the corolla-tube, and u[)on it lie the two lateral lobes of thc! sa.ino 

 lip; these are covered by the downwardly bent upper lip. In the buds ol' the Ger- 

 mander {Teucriu7)i), the middle IoIjo of the lower lip i.s bent up to snch an (txtcMit 

 that it covers over th(^ anthers like a dome, whilst in tbn.se of Ihe llnwer.s of ilie 

 scrophularineous Snapdragon and 'Poadllax {A ittirrliiiiitiii, >uid /yVJi^r/'/ci') complete 

 closure of tho llower is caused by an iulhited portion of the lowei- lip (tho so-called 

 palate), this is covered by the upwardly-directed, central lobe of the lower lip, and 

 this again by the two downwardly directed lobes oi' (he upper lip. 



All these obstacles, however, to access to the intcn'ior of the (lower an* soon 

 removed. The petals, having served as protective wra,[)[)ers to the bud, bill iiwny 

 on tho opening of tho llower in cases whore they have no rinlln r I'lMietion Ut 

 discharge. This condition, truly, is a rai-e oni!, but oeciir.M in the Vine ( VIIIh). Tim 

 petals here arc valvate in tlu; bud and birm a, dome-lilo^ (•()V(5riMg to (,he H(iun(*ns 

 and ovary; they are green in colour, not readily distinguishiible from the b)liage, and 

 of little value as attractive organs bir insects. Under these (Mi'cunmliiiiees it is of 

 advantage that thoy should be got rid of (piickly. This is fn'cniiiplished as billows. 

 Tho petals separate from tho llower at tho base, enc.h I'olls up H|)iridly, and (hey 

 remain hanging togiitlior by tluiir apices for a while like a, hood, wlii(;h is ultimately 

 thrown off in consequence of the expansion of the stairK^iis. 



This class of opening of (lowers is, as stated, rai-e. In tho grc^at mnjority of 

 ca.scs the petals play a definite part in tho later stages of ilowering, and are (con- 

 sequently retained. Access to tho interior of the llow(!r is brought ahout by tho 

 development betwo(cn the petals of wide slils as iti Ihe K.inipidn ( I 'h i/teuma), or, 

 in ordinary cases, by the entire separation of their free ends from one another; (,lie 

 jietals, in fact, spread out, and sometimes oven become l'old(!il back. This separation, 

 of course, corresponds to the position which the petals previously occujiied in (.he 

 bud. Whore the asstivation is valvate, the apices of tho petals siinply fold back- like 

 valves; where it is imbricate, the peta,ls V)ocorne diH(!ntH.ngled; wh(!re it is |)laited or 

 crumpled, the folds or ine(jualities b(!como siiujothed out. Spirally4wis(,(!d buds 

 becotne untwisted, and it may fre(|n(!id.ly be observed that two or even thnu! diflerent 

 sorts of movement are necessary \'ny a llow(rr to open. 



In this way, in inany cases, ordy a soinevvhat circumsicr-ibed opening arises, heading 

 down to the expanded or tubular interior portion of the llower. in others, again, tho 

 whole flower opens widely like a cup or .saucer, as in Hoses, Anemones, H,nd Poonios, 



The .separation of the [letals usually happens very (pii('kly. In (In- IbmeyMiiekle 

 (Lonicera Caprifoliimi) opening bisgins with tlx; folding back of the lowest lobe 

 of the corolla, followed Viy a similar movement of the others, tho stamens become 

 liberated and spread like the fingers of a hand. Tho whole soi'ies of movomcuts cun 



