Wild Flowers as They Grow 



this once more becomes soluble, and passes into the 

 growing parts, which rapidly develop. In the centre 

 of the long, flat, narrow leaves the flower-bud is at 

 first covered by a scaly wrapper. It pushes through 

 this and stands erect, a long-pointed oval. As the 

 days pass it droops to one side, the yeUow petals 

 burst through the green bud scales, and the flower 

 is before us. The simile of the " sacristan's gusty 

 taper " for the long yellow flower as it stretches 

 away almost at right angles from its stalk and 

 flutters in the breeze is very apt. It has only one 

 ring of floral leaves — sepals and petals are merged 

 in it — and this is tubular below and spreading above. 

 The most striking feature of the flower is the large 

 golden "corona" that it bears round the top 

 of the tube. It is largely to this that the flower 

 owes its attractiveness. The lower part of the 

 yellow tube has a lining of honey cells, and out 

 of these plenty of honey filters amply to satisfy 

 visitors from the insect world. These are chiefly 

 bees from neighbouring hives whom the spring 



