62 



BRITISH FLOWERING PLANTS 



into spurs which lie within the former, and secrete 

 honey. In order to reach this, it is necessary for the 

 bee to press its proboscis between the upper and lower 

 petals (pe), through the interval (to). The lower 

 wall of this orifice is in front closed by the lower petals, 



FlQ. 30. 

 Delphinium elatum. a, A young flower, seen from the front, after removal of tlie 

 calyx. /3, Section of a similar flower, seen from the side ; the right half of the 

 calyx and of the corolla has been removed. 7, An older flower, seen from the 

 front, after removing the calyx. 5, Section of a similar flower, seen from the 

 side, after removing the right half of the calyx. 



which are turned upwards and sideways, so as to form 

 the lower wall of" the orifice leading to the nectary, and 

 to cover the stamens and pistil. Immediately behind 

 the entrance to the tube, however, these petals contract 

 so as to leave a space (m). The stamens (a) and pistil 

 lie below this space, and as the stamens ripen they 

 successively raise themselves and their anthers pass 



