The Life of Plants {1 
bees, without effecting the object in view. The upper 
arch of the flower protects the stamens and pistil, and 
also presses them firmly against the back of the bee; 
so that, when she alights on the stage and pushes her 
proboscis down to the honey, her back comes into contact 
with the pollen. The row of small hairs at the bottom 
of the tube prevents small insects from creeping down 
the tube and stealing the honey. Lastly, the small 
processes on each side of the lower lip are the rudi- 
mentary representatives of parts, formerly more largely 
developed, but which, having become useless, have almost 
disappeared. Hence we see that every particular and 
detail in the flower has its own purpose and function. 
ss In some cases plants act almost as if they possessed 
BEL \ . oS. rr Oya) . . 
es ; intelligence. We all know how difficult it is to catch 
rom a drawing by Professor F. LH. Hulme, : : 
F.LS., F.S.A. a fly. But the Sundew lives on them. Various other 
inks, 2 plants feed on insects, capturmg them by a series of 
most ingenious devices. The Grass of Parnassus deceives 
flies by mock drops of honey, but more mercifully makes no attempt to imjure them 
when they have served its purpose. 
Some plants mimic others. The white Dead Nettle (Fig. 3), to which I have already 
referred is a familar instance. It frequents waste ground and road sides, and seems to love 
the Stinging Nettle. The plants belong to quite different families, but the leaves and 
general habit are so similar, that from a little distance it is almost impossible to 
distinguish them unless the Dead Nettle is in flower. I can hardly doubt that the 
Dead Nettle is often spared from its similarity to the Stinging Nettle. 
Again, it is known that many flowers 
sleep. Why should they do so? In animals 
we can understand it; they are tired and 
require rest. But why should flowers sleep ? 
Why should some flowers do so, and not others? 
Moreover, different flowers keep different hours. 
The Daisy (Fig. 4), opens at sunrise, and closes 
at sunset, whence its name the “day’s eye.” 
The Dandelion (Fug. 5) is said to open about 
seven and close about five; Arenaria rubra 
to be open from nine to three; the White 
Water Lily (Fig. 6) from about seven to four; 
the common Mouse-ear Hawkweed (Hieraciwm 
Pilosella) trom eight to threé; the Scarlet 
Pimpernel (Anagaliis arvensis) to waken at 
seven and close soon after two; Tragopogon 
pratensis to open at four in the morning, 
and close just before twelve, whence its 
English name, “John go to bed at noon.” 
Farmers’ boys in some parts are said to 
regulate their dinner-time by it. Other 
fldwers, on the contrary, open in the evening. 
Now, it is obvious that flowers which 
are fertilized by night-flymg imsects would From a drawing by Professor F. H. Hulme, F.L.S., F.S.A. 
derive no advantage from being open by Fig. 5. 
