General 
The little protective scales of the flower bud are modi- 
fied leaves. In the flower one finds many other cells 
besides those which form the important pollen of the 
stamen or the egg-cell of the young seed. There are, for 
instance, coloured cells, reddish or violet in the petals 
(botanically, sepals), which protect the delicate ferments 
at work in the supply of sugar to the seed; hair-cells 
which keep off undesirable insects. There are some- 
where in the stalk of the flower sensitive cells which 
somehow or other contract and expand, so that the 
flower hangs its head in wet weather (when insects are 
benumbed) and becomes erect and opened out in sun- 
shine or warmth when many insects are abroad. 
As the stalk grows older and the seeds ripen, it 
becomes taller, keeping usually above the neighbouring 
vegetation. It is then tough and elastic, and very dif- 
ferent in character from the young flower-stalk. This 
means a great change in the habit and character of the 
cells which form it. 
So that in the “body” of the Wood Anemone, which 
is made up of these minute living cells, one finds the 
most varied duties apportioned to these latter. All 
contribute somehow to the general welfare of the Wood 
Anemone; that is, they form a co-operative association 
withacommonend. Yet one can hardly believe that the 
root cells, ¢.g., are in the least aware even of the exist- 
ence of the flower for which they work themselves to 
death. 
It might be possible to show that some of them are 
competing eagerly with one another. The leaves are 
ruthlessly sacrificed as soon as they are past work, 
and the flower begins to form. Bud scales, petals, and 
stamens are at once thrown off so soon as they have 
fulfilled their functions. The whole flowering stalk is 
sacrificed as soon as the séed is scattered, and the fat, 
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