CHAPTEE IV. 



MEANS OF PROTECTION AGAINST THOSE IN- 



. JURIOUS INFLUENCES AND ATTACKS BY 



WHICH THE ADVANTAGES WHICH ACCRUE 



TO THE PLANT FROM BEARING FLOWERS 



MIGHT BE LOST, 



The disadvantageous influences and attacks to which 

 flowers are exposed, and which have been set forth in 

 the preceding pages, are compensated by the develop- 

 ment of a large number of protective appliances which 

 obviate, as far as possible, the mischiefs threatened. 

 Some of these guard the flowers from injuries which 

 they otherwise might suffer from wind, rain, and dew ; 

 while others ward off the attacks to which the blossoms 

 are exposed from the animal world. 



As regards the latter, namely, the attacks of animals, 

 it is, for the most part, in the flowers themselves that 

 the protective appliances are to be found. In many 

 cases, however, the axis and leaves are also protected, 

 inasmuch as the destruction of these parts would 

 endanger the formation of flowers. Tor the materials 

 out of which the flowers are buUt up are formed, in all 

 plants that have an axis, by the agency of that axis 



