How the Flowers PVoo the Insects 



attraction to insure its perpetuation, the construc- 

 tion of the flower is most simple ; if color is suffi- 

 cient, all effort at adaptation ceases there. If a 

 goodly store of pollen suffices to attract the insect 

 sought and nectar is not required, all the efforts of 

 the flower are expended on the manufacture of 

 pollen, and no nectar is secreted. When the end 

 in view is insured. Nature's work is finished in that 

 particular direction. It is therefore quite usual to 

 find plain, unattractive flowers that are more com- 

 plicated in their internal mechanism than the beau- 

 tiful rose or flaming peony. 



The orchids, that rare race, need every attraction 

 and the most tender care that Nature can bestow 

 to insure their continued existence, and are there- 

 fore among our most exquisitely fashioned, as well 

 as most wonderfully beautiful flowers. 



Look where we will among the blossoms, we find 

 the same beautiful plan of intercommunion and 

 reciprocitv evervwhere demonstrated. The means 

 appear without limit in their evolved — rather I 

 should say, involved ingenuity. 



While each family of plants is apt to favor some 

 particular general plan in their adaptation to insects, 

 the modifications in the various species seem almost 

 without limit. Pluck the first flower that you meet 



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