"Blossom Hosls and In sect Guests 



which secretes the beads of sweets for its pet com- 

 panion insects, which in this instance do not happen 

 to be bees or butterflies, but most generally wasps 

 of various kinds, as these insects are not so par- 

 ticular as to the quality of their tipple as bees are 

 apt to be. But the iigwort has found out gradually 

 through the ages that zuasps are more serviceable in 

 the cross-fertilization of its flowers than other insects, 

 and it has thus gradually modified its shape, odor, 

 and nectar especially to these insects. 



Let us, then, take a careful look at these queer 

 little homely flowers, and for the time being con- 

 sider them as mere devices — first, to insure the 

 visit of an insect, and, second, to make that insect 

 the bearer of the pollen from one blossom to the 

 stigma of another. Here we see a flower with 

 three distinct welcomes on three successive days. 



The flower-bud usually opens in the morning, 

 and shows a face as at A, which must be fully un- 

 derstood by looking at the side section shown at A'. 

 The anthers and pollen are not yet ripe, but the 

 stigma is ready, and now guards the doorway. To- 

 morrow morninof we shall see a new condition of 

 things at that doorway, as seen at B and B\ The 

 stigma has now bent down out of the way, while 

 two anthers have unfolded on their stalks and now 



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