INTELLIGENCE OF FLOWERS 



been deceived in the spiral, the yellow Lucern added spikes or 

 hooks to it, saying to itself, not unreasonably, that, since its 

 leaves attract the sheep, it is inevitable and right that the sheep 

 should assume the care of its progeny? And, lastly, is it not 

 thanks to this new effort and to this happy thought that the 

 Lucern with the yellow flowers is infinitely more widely dis- 

 tributed than its sturdier cousin whose flowers are red? 



5 

 It is not only in the seed or the flower, but in the whole 

 plant, leaves, stalks and roots, that we discover, if we stoop 

 for a moment over their humble work, many traces of a pru- 

 dent and quick intelligence. Think of the magnificent strug- 

 gle towards the light of the thwarted branches, or the ingen- 

 ious and courageous strife of trees in danger. As for my- 

 self, I shall never forget the admirable example of heroism 

 given me the other day in Provence, in the wild and delightful 

 Gorges du Loup, all fragrant with violets, by a huge, cen- 

 tenarian Laurel-tree. It was easy to read on its twisted and, 

 so to speak, writhing trunk the whole drama of its hard and 

 tenacious life. A bird or the wind, masters of destiny both, 

 had carried the seed to the flank of the rock, which was as 



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