54 CLOSED FLOWERS. 



the Antm'hinum, or Snapdragon, is completely closed, 

 and only a somewhat powerful insect can force its way 

 in. The flower is in fact a strong box, of which the 

 Humble-bee only has the key. The Linarias are another 

 case of this kind. The Campanulas, again, are open 

 flowers, but the stamens are swollen at the base, 

 and in close contact with one another, so that they 

 form the lid of a hollow box in which the honey is 

 secreted. In some species the same object is effec- 

 ted by the stamens being crowded together, as in 

 some of the white ranunculuses of the Alps. In 

 other cases, the flower forms a narrow tube, stilJ 

 further protected by the presence of hairs, sometimes 

 scattered, sometimes, as in the white dead nettle, 

 forming a row. 



In others, as in some species of Narcissus, Primula, 

 Pedicularis, &c., the tube itself is so narrow that even 

 an ant could not force its way down. 



In others, again, as in some of the Gentians, the 

 opening of the tube is protected by the swollen head 

 of the pistil. 



In others, as in clover, lotus, and many other 

 LegumvnoscB, the ovary and the stamens, which cling 

 round the ovary in a closely-fitting tube, fill up almost 

 the whole spaxje between the petals, leaving only a 

 very narrow tube. 



Lastly, in some, as in Geranium robertianum, 

 Ltnum catharticum, &c., the main tube itself is 

 divided by ridges into several secondary ones. 



