Wild Flowers as They Grow 



The flower is of special interest. It belongs to 

 the strongly marked family of the Scrophulariacees, 

 and has for relatives the snapdragon, foxglove and 

 mullein. The sepals are united into a cup whose 

 margin is cut into five teeth — the top sepal is longer 

 than the other four — and the delicate, semi-trans- 

 parent tissue of the cup is supported by five stout 

 ribs. The handsome corolla, often an inch and a 

 half across, is a vivid yellow marked by red spots, 

 and its curious, irregular, two-lipped shape has 

 given the plant the nickname of " Monkey Flower," 

 which strikes one as apt, though it is difficult to 

 say offhand where the resemblance lies, even though 

 some folks profess to see a grin in it. 



Examine the flower from the point of view of a 



hovering insect — a lens will materially assist, even 



though the blossom is so large. The lower lip is 



fashioned of three lobes, and invites as a convenient 



ahghting place ; the upper lip is two-lobed, and forms 



a porch to a most alluring cavern glowing with 



golden colour. The floor is humped from entrance 



126 



