ON THE WATSONIA 



interest associated with the modification of color 

 even when no other change is involved. 



The white Watsonia that was discovered among 

 its pink fellows was given a new botanical name, 

 and went forth to conquer the world captioned 

 as a new sub-species. Yet it differed in no obvious 

 regard from myriads of its fellows except in the 

 matter of color. 



It was pure white, and all of its fellows were 

 reddish pink. That fact gave the one Watsonia 

 distinction among the millions and insured the 

 propagation of its progeny and their migration to 

 the utmost corners of the earth. 



Evolution of Colored Flowers 



Something has been said in various preceding 

 chapters as to the philosophy of color variation. 

 The origin of the colored floral envelope has been 

 ascribed to the influence of insects. We have been 

 made aware that the floral envelope was devel- 

 oped as an advertising device to attract insects, 

 that their services may be engaged for the transfer 

 of pollen that is so essential in keeping up the 

 necessary adaptability and vitality of a race of 

 plants. 



We have been led to infer that the floral 

 envelope is one of the most recent developments 

 in plant evolution, inasmuch as the earlier forms 

 of plant life had no such apparatus and their suc- 



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