266 



FLOWERS 



existed remote ages ago ; we mean that these ancestral 



forms had the habit, 

 as plants have the 

 habit now, of chang- 

 ing somewhat as 

 time goes on and as 

 conditions alter ; we 

 mean that some of 

 these ancestral 

 plants gradually be- 

 came more complex 

 in structure, and 

 that those forms 

 whose new struc- 

 tures were of ad- 

 vantage were more 

 likely to live than 

 those forms whose 

 new structures were 

 not of advantage ; 

 wemean that among 

 the new structures 

 which were gradu- 

 ally evolved the 

 flower was one. 

 All this and a great 

 deal more is in- 

 volved in the idea 

 of the evolution of 

 flowers. 

 It is in connection with this process of evolution that 



the great variety of flowers has appeared. The nutritive 



Fig. 94^4. — Lady's slipper, or moccasin flower. 

 One of the orchid family (Cypripeiium parvifiorum) . 

 One of the most peculiar of spring flowers, found 

 in boggy places. 



