'Blossom Hosts and Insect Guests 



the closest proximity, and apparently even in con- 

 tact — seemingly with the design of self-fertilization 

 — are actually more perfectly separated functionally 

 than if in separate flowers, the insect alone consum- 

 mating their affinity. 



The blue-flag suffers constantly from the visits of 

 pilferers, chiefly butterflies, which alight upon the 

 drooping petals, and thrusting their long tongues 

 through narrow openings between the lobes of the 

 perianth, rifle the blossom of its sweets, without 

 bestowing or receiving any pollen. 



As the blue-flag grows in moist places, and conse- 

 quently secretes an abundant supply of nectar, this 

 robbery is not so serious a matter as it would be in 

 the case of some other flowers. 



