POLLINATION 229 



pine, Indian corn, oaks, ragweed, and grasses of all sorts 

 afford abundant examples, this is accomplished by the 

 wind. This is a very clumsy and wasteful method, how- 

 ever, for so much pollen is lost by the haphazard mode of 

 distribution that the plant is forced to spend its energies 

 in producing a vast amount more than is actually needed, 

 and great masses of it are frequently seen in spring floating 

 like patches of sulphur on ponds and streams in the 

 neighborhood of pine thickets. Wind-pollinated flowers 

 are called by botanists anemophilous, a word meaning 

 "wind-loving." Like those that are self-pollinated, they 

 are generally very inconspicuous, devoid of odor and of 

 all attractions of form or color, because they have no 

 need of these allurements to attract the visits of insects. 



333. Insect Pollination. — A more economical method 

 of securing pollination is through the agency of insects. 

 In probing around for the nectar or the pollen upon which 

 they feed, these busy little creatures get themselves dusted 

 with the fertilizing powder, which they unconsciously con- 

 vey from the stamen of one flower to the pistil of another. 

 Insects usually confine themselves, as far as possible, to 

 the same species during their day's work, and since less 

 pollen is wasted in this way than would be done by the 

 wind, it is clearly to the advantage of a plant to attract 

 such visitors, even at the expense of a little honey, or 

 of a liberal toll out of the pollen they distribute. 



Flowers that have adapted themselves to insect polli- 

 nation are said to be entomophilous, insect lovers, and all 

 their various attractions of form, color, and odor have been 

 developed, not for the gratification of man, as human 

 arrogance and self-conceit have so long asserted, but as 

 notifications to their insect guests that the banquet of 

 nectar is spread. 



334. Special Partnerships. — Some plants have adapted 

 themselves to the visits of one particular kind of insect 

 so completely that they would die out if that species were 

 to become extinct. The well-known alliance between red 



