DEGENERATION. 93 



Composites can only be traced by means of several 

 intermediate exotics, in every stage of progressive 

 degradation. Such conclusive examples clearly show 

 us that green flowers may occur as products of degra- 

 dation even in the most advanced families. 



Adoxa moschatellina is another excellent specimen 

 of a green corollifloral blossom. This pretty little 

 plant is closely allied to the honeysuckles and ivies ; 

 but it has somehow acquired a light green corolla, in 

 place of a white or pink one. It is still entomophi- 

 lous, and scantily secretes honey, so that the reason 

 of the change cannot be immediately pointed out. 

 Perhaps its very inconspicuousness saves it from the 

 obtrusive visits of undesirable insect guests. The 

 flowers of Hedera helix, common ivy, are also yel- 

 lowish green. In the allied family of Umbelliferce 

 many flowers have declined to similar greenish tints ; 

 but this can hardly be their primitive colour, as they 

 have an inferior ovary, which marks high develop- 

 ment, even if they are not, as suggested, degenerate 

 gamopetalous forms. Smyrnium olusatrum in this 

 family, and Chrysosplenium among the Saxifragacece, 

 exhibit very well the steps by which green corollas or 

 perianths may be produced from originally white or 

 yellow flowers. Rubia peregrina (wild madder) has 

 also greenish monopetalous blossoms. All these are 

 entomophilous. Their high structural development 

 obviously negatives the notion that they are primitive 

 green flowers ; and we must necessarily conclude that 

 they have become green for some special functional 

 purpose of their own. 



Among the highly developed Ericacece, greenish 

 flowers occur in Pyrola, and to a less extent in 



