126 



THE STORY OP THE PLANTS. 



most curious part of it all is that the flower, 

 from the point of view of the bee, resembles 

 three distinct and separate blossoms ; he alights 

 one after another on each bending sepal, and 

 proceeds to search for honey as if in a new 

 flower. 



Highest of all the threefold flowers, and most 

 wonderful in their marriage customs, are the 



PIG. 22. — SINOLE FLOWER OP ORCHID, WITH THE' 



PERIANTH CUT AWAY. The honey is in the 

 spur, n; the pollen-masses are marked a; 

 their gummy base is at r ; the stigma at st. 



great group of orchids, some of which grow wild 

 in our English meadows, while others fix them- 

 selves by short anchoring roots on the branches 

 of trees in the tropical forests. Many of these 

 last produce the handsomest and most extra- 

 ordinary flowers in the world, and they are 



