ON THE NECTARIES OF FLOWERS, 1J^3 



tbe female to acquire pollen sufficient to fructify its seeds, there 

 can be no doubt with those who thoroughly watch iiowers ; also 

 that the mechanism for the purpose exists in them, and is always 

 found capable of performing its office in indigenous plants. If, 

 therefore, the pistil and stamen can almost always suffice, with- 

 out aid, to impregnate the seeds, is it likely, that so large and 

 seemingly important a part as the nectary should be placed in 

 every Jiower, when not likely to be necessary but to a very few ? 

 But the nectary has, in reality, a much more important task to Nectary not 

 perform, and its history is beautiful and perfect in all its parts. pJr^^osJ^oS™* 

 There is in every flower a concealed as -well as an open nectary ; 

 its luscious juice is formed within the vessel of the line of life., 

 and increases in sweetness as the plant advances towards 

 flowering. It is this juice which appears at the head of the 

 stigma in one or many glittering drops, which dissolve the pol- 

 len, conveying the joint mixture to the seeds, which it impreg- 

 nates. Without this liquid, therefore, the seeds would not be 

 completed. Hence the cause of nature's forming two nectaries 

 in each flowe*", which are the sacred deposits of this juice ; the 

 one that insects can attain, the other closei^ to them, and so ..- 



well guarded when not wholly closed, that death generally fol- 

 lows the attempt to seize it : for though the insect tribe are 

 taught to find the open one, yet if they could take all the honey why two n*c- 

 thus deposited, the seeds could not be impregnated. Thus ^^'"'^3 are ne- 

 Nature, ever indulgent, bestows as long as the general good will 

 Siilow ; but gluttony brings its own punishment. 



Nor ar& the purposes already mentioned the only ones for Farther use of 

 which the nectary was designed by nature, and bestowed on ^"^ nectane», 

 flowers. The various alteration of the juices ; the first feeding 

 of the embryo of the seeds and buds ; the innumerable combi- 

 nations formed in the interior of plants, of which the nectarious 

 juice is the basis ; and the decomposition of water, which the 

 solar microscope so admirably shows to be constantly going on 

 in plants ; must owe much to the juices of the nectary. I have 

 observed for some time past, that the line of life (the source of 

 the nectary) bleeds whenever it arrives at that part of the stem Blecdin?ofth« 

 where the leaves shoot, and the buds come forth -, and have '"* ° ' ^' 

 continually seen it ooze out when greatly magnified : but I was 

 most curious to know whether this bleeding was the cause of 

 that change of colour, which so frequently takes place in njany 



dilTerent 



