148 



BEGINNERS' BOTANY 



Fig. 200, 



Larkspur, 



irregular and provided with nectar and strong pcrficme are 

 iisually pollinated by insects. Gaudy colors probably attract 

 insects in many cases, but perfume appears to be a greater 

 attraction. 



The insect visits the flower for the 

 nectar (for the making of honey) and 

 may tuiknozvingly carry the pollen. 

 Spurs and sacs in the flower are necta- 

 ries (Fig. 200), but in spurless flowers 

 the nectar is usually secreted in the 

 bottom of the flower cnp. This compels 

 the insect to pass by the anther and 

 Flower of rub against the pollen before it reaches 

 the nectar. Sometimes the anther is a 

 long lever poised on the middle point and the insect 

 bumps against one end and lifts ,-» 



it, thus bringing the other end 1 



of the lever with the pollen sacs jj. ] 



down on its back. Flowers that 

 are pollinated by insects are said 

 to be entomophilous (" insect lov- 

 ing"). Fig. 200 shows a larkspur. 

 The envelopes are separated in 

 Fig. 201. The long spur at once 

 suggests insect pollination. The 

 spur is a sepal. Two hollow 

 petals project into this spur, ap- 

 parently serving to guide the 

 bee's tongue. The two smaller 

 petals, in front, are peculiarly 

 colored and perhaps serve the bee in locating the nectary. 

 The stamens ensheath the pistils (Fig. 202). As the insect 

 stands on the flower and thrusts its head into the center, 



it 



Fig. 20T. — Envelopes of a 

 Larkspur. There are five 

 wide sepals, the upper one be- 

 ing spurred. There are four 

 small petals. 



