168 WILD FLOWER FAMILIES 
sized conspicuous blossom, which, at first glance, 
appears to be composed of four large white petals. 
A more careful scrutiny, however, shows that 
there are complete though tiny flowers above these 
supposed petals and that what looks like a single 
blossom really consists of a good many flowers 
65] 
DWARF CORNEL OR BUNCHBERRY 
crowded together in one head. The white petaloid 
parts, which the botanists call bracts, serve to 
render the flower-head conspicuous and help to 
attract short-tongued insects of many kinds to 
the flowers, their reward being found in the nectar 
which is secreted around the base of the style. 
The flowering heads have a delicate odor. 
After the white bracts have fallen off each 
