THE TRAVELLERS' JOY 127 



honey and not very fragrant, some of the other 

 •\vhite-flowered species, such as C. Flam'mula, the 

 rapidly-growing Continental form, which was culti- 

 vated by Gerard in 1596, and the splendid Japanese 

 €. Fortvfnei, are extremely sweet-scented. It is 

 somewhat remarkable in this connection that, with- 

 in the limits of the Buttercup Family, we have 

 well-marked series, both in colour and in specialisation 

 of structure, for insect polliaation. From the simple, 

 open, greenish-white flowers of the Meadow-rues 

 (Thalic'trum), and of some species of Clematis, in 

 which the numerous stamens are sometimes adapted 

 for the conveyance of pollen by wind, and in other 

 ■cases can only reward their insect visitors with surplus 

 pollen, we pass to the yellow Buttercups and yellow 

 and white Water Crowfoots, with their honey 

 partially -concealed and protected by a scale on 

 the base of each petal, to the special honey- tubes 

 of Hellebores, the scarlet flowers of Pheasant's-eye 

 and Pseony; and lastly to the complex and less 

 symmetrical blossoms of Columbines, Larkspurs, 

 and Monkshoods, with highly specialised nectaries 

 and an extensive gamut of colour, including purples 

 and true blues, which are held to mark the high- 

 est degree of evolution. In Clematis, as also in 

 Thatictrum,, we have a character as yet unexplained, 

 which is frequent in wind-pollinated flowers, viz., 

 that the stigma reaches maturity — becomes sticky, 

 that is— rather before the pollen of that particular 

 blossom is ready to be discharged. In insect- 

 pollinated flowers the stamens more commonly 

 mature before the stigmas. 



