"Blossom Hosts and Insect Guests 



these two buds is a most interesting study, as bear- 

 ing upon the conscious intention of the flower as an 

 embodiment of a divine companion to an insect. 

 What is the intention involved in the construction 

 and habit of this flower ? 



What are we to infer from the shape of our even- 

 ing primrose ? Its tube is long 

 and slender, and the nectar is 

 secreted at its farthest extremity. 

 Only a tongue an inch or so in 

 length could reach it. What 

 insects have tongues of this 

 length ? Moths and butterflies. 

 The primrose blooms at night, 

 when butterflies are asleep, and is 

 thus clearly adapted to moths. 

 The flower opens ; its stigma is 

 closed ; the projecting stamens 

 scatter the loose pollen upon 

 the moth as it sips close at the blossom's throat, 

 and as it flies from flower to flower it conveys it to 

 other blossoms whose stigmas are matured. The ex- 

 pression of the normal bud is thus one of affmity 

 and hope. 



Our friend just quoted mentions having seen 

 " holes " on the other swollen buds, and there is 



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