Wild Flowers as They Grow 



exposed, two have both edges covered, and one 



has one side covered and one side exposed, and the 



great scientist points out that it is the exposed edges 



that carry " beards " ; the unexposed edges are 



without them. This does not, however, explain why 



the exposed edges should have them, or what purpose 



they serve. Another suggestion, thrown out by Mr. 



Owen and Prof. Boulger, is that this is a " curious 



illustration of progressively diminishing resemblance 



of floral leaves to foliage leaves," for in their eyes 



" two of the five sepals are pinnately lobed " (after 



the fashion of the leaves), " two are undivided, and 



one has lobes on one side only." 



The five deUcate petals are all ahke ; on their 



under-surfaces are many glands of a highly volatile 



essence, and from them is exhaled a faint but delicate 



fragrance of the myrrh tj^pe. (It may not be generally 



known that there are no fewer than seventeen 



different kinds of scents among the roses.) Their 



petals' snowy whiteness throws up in strong contrast 



the crown of the many dark-coloured stamens. 



80 



