From Blue to Puiple 



access to the nectar; and, secondly, places the stamens in such a 

 position that the pollen falls into the open space between the 

 pistil and the free ends of the stamens. If the flower were up- 

 right, the pollen would fall into the space between the base of 

 the stamen and the base of the pistil, and would not come in 

 contact with the bee. 



"2. Why does the pollen differ from that of most other 

 insect-fertilized flowers? In most of such flowers the insects 

 themselves remove the pollen from the anthers, and it is therefore 

 important that the pollen should not easily be detached and carried 

 away by the wind. In the present case, on the contrary, it is 

 desirable that it should be looser and dryer, so that it may easily 

 fall into the space between the stamens and the pistil. If it re- 

 mained attached to the anther, it would not be touched by the 

 bee, and the flower would remain unfertilized. 



"3. Why is the base of the style so thin ? In order that the 

 bee may be more easily able to bend the style. 



' ' 4. Why is the base of the style bent ? For the same reason. 

 The result of the curvature is that the pistil is much more easily 

 bent than would be the case if the style were straight. 



" 5. Finally, why does the membranous termination of the 

 upper filament overlap the corresponding portions of the two 

 middle stamens ? Because this enables the bee to move the pistil, 

 and thereby to set free the pollen more easily than would be the 

 case under the reverse arrangement." 



In high altitudes of New England, Colorado., and northward, 

 where the soil is wet and cold, the pale lilac, slightly bearded petals, 

 streaked with darker veins, of the Marsh Violet (K. palustris), 

 with its almost round leaves, may be found from May to June. 

 All through the White Mountains one finds it abundant. 



A peculiarity of the Dog or Running Violet (K, Labradorica) 

 is that its small, heart-shaped leaves are set along the branching 

 stem, and its pale purple blossoms rise from their angles, pansy 

 fashion. From March to May it blooms throughout its wide range 

 in wet, shady places. Its English prototype, called by the same 

 invidious name, was given the prefix "dog," because the word, 

 which is always intended to express contempt in the British mind, 

 is applied in this case for the flower's lack of fragrance. When a 

 bee visits this violet, his head coming in contact with the stigma 

 jars it, thus opening the little pollen box, whose contents must 

 fall out on his head and be carried away and rubbed off where 

 it will fertilize the next violet visited. 



31 



