Wild Flowers as They Grow 



possibly be in the way as the bee foraged for the 

 honey, and prevent it touching the stamens behind, 

 so it closes to leave a free passage. Doubtless for 

 both reasons this most interesting sensitive stigma 

 acts as it does. Other members of this family, 

 though none of them natives of this country, have 

 somewhat similar sensitive and moving stigmas. 



One other point of interest lies in this flower. Each 

 anther, as Kemer points out, may be compared to 

 two little tubs standing side by side, each having a 

 lid. When they are rjpe they twist round through a 

 right angle so that they lie lengthwise instead of across 

 the roof of the petal cavern. Then the lids open, 

 those nearest the outside opening first, and the pollen 

 dust is shot out of them on to the bee visitor's head. 



The fruits, when ripe, are extremely minute and 

 well adapted to be carried by the stream. It is no 

 doubt because the plant thus utilises our water- 

 ways that it has been able to spread through the 

 length and breadth of our southern counties in the 



way it has done. 



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