Handbook of Nature-Study 



*=^57 - ■ 



THE NASTURTIUM 



Teacher's Story 



"Little "warriors, brave and fearless, with shields of emerald 



green, 

 Are climbing over fence rails, and everywhere are seen 

 Look'.ng down on every side, while her brave Nasturtium 



army. 

 Queen Nature views with pride." 



— Ray Laurance. 



It is quite fitting that the nasturtium leaves 

 should be shaped like shields, for that is one of their 

 uses; they are shields to protect the young nastur- 

 tium seeds from the hot sun and from the view of 

 devouring enemies. The nasturtiums are natives 

 of Peru and Chili, and it is fitting that the leaves 

 should develop in shield-shape, and the shields 

 overlap until they form a tent to shade the tender 

 developing fruit from the burning sun. But they 

 were never meant to shield the flower, which thrusts 

 its brilliant petals out between the shields, and calls 

 loudly to the world to admire it. It would indeed 

 be a pity for such a remarkable flower to remain 

 hidden; its five sepals are united at their base, and 

 the posterior one is extended into a long spur, a tube 

 with a delectable nectar-well at its tip. The five 

 petals are set around the mouth of this tube, the 

 two upper ones differing in appearance and office 

 from those below; these two stand up like a pair of 

 fans, and on them are lines which converge; on the 

 upper sepals are similar lines pointing toward the 

 same interesting spot. And what do all these lines 

 lead to, except a veritable treasure-cave filled with 

 nectar! The lower petals tell another stor)^; they 

 stand out, niaking a platform, or doorstep, on which 

 the visiting bee alights. But it requires a big insect to do the work of this 

 flower, and what if some inefficient little bee or fly should alight on the 



