60 



BRITISH FLOWERING PLANTS 



often tinged with brown or purple ; and H. viridis, with 

 three or four yellowish green flowers. Both are proto- 

 gynous. The petals are modified (Figs. 32, 33, n) into 

 remarkable, more or less conical, elongated cups, which 

 serve as nectaries. The hanging position and the close 

 application of the sepals completely protect the honey 

 from rain, and conceal the flowers from many insects. 

 When the flower opens, the styles turn outwards so as 

 to stand just under the nectaries. Subsequently they 

 move inwards, and their place is taken by the stamens, 

 which then, and not till then, open their anthers. 



H. foetidus (Stinking Hellebore) is probably protected 

 from grazing quadrupeds by its disagreeable smell and 



Fig. 32. — Hdleborus fmtidus. Fig. 33. — Bdleborus fmtidus. Flower in the 



Flower in the first (female) second (male) condition. h, calyx ; n, 



condition ; the sepals partly nectaries ; a, unripe anther ; a', ripe and 



removed. open anther ; ;>■, stigmas. 



taste. It grows in stony and calcareous places in 

 Central and Southern Europe, extending some way up 

 the valleys, and occurs in Hampshire and Sussex, but 

 is perhaps a doubtful native. 



H. viridis. — The flowers are more open and the nectar 

 is more abundant than in the preceding species. They 

 are, however, less conspicuous on account of their green 

 colour, being indeed the largest green blossoms in our 

 flora. They are visited by bees and humble bees, but 

 not very frequently. The plant is found in woods in 

 calcareous districts throughout Western and Central 

 Europe, and in our southern and south-eastern counties. 



