482 THE UNIVERSE. 



CHAPTEE X. 



PHYSIOLOGY OF FLOWERS. 



In the flower, this glorious and supreme eff'ort of 

 vegetable life, the poetic imagination of Linnfeus beheld 

 only the picture of a chaste marriage. The calyx, Avhich 

 grasps it in its rustic arms, was to him only the maidenly 

 couch, of which the delicate and undulating veils which 

 hang Avithin formed the mysterious curtains. Lastly, in 

 the centre sat the modest spouses, intoxicating themselves 

 with love, enveloj^ed in a cloud of perfume, and their feet 

 bathed in nectar. 



But all plants do not display to us in this way the calm 

 magnificence of their nuptials. The deep secrets of these 

 are al^solutely hidden with respect to many of them, which 

 the greatest and most ingenious of botanists named for 

 this reason Crj^Dtogamia, signifying clandestine marriage. 



Among j)lants which are ornamented with visible 

 flowers, these exhibit an endless variety of size, form, 

 colouring, and perfume. 



While some, such as the valerians, bear such tiny 

 corollas that we can scarcely make them out, the lilies and 

 irises exhibit grand and sumptuous structures of this class, 

 which rivet every person's attention ; and yet some exotic 

 plants leave them far behind in this respect. 



The flower of one Aristolocliia, which grows on the 

 banks of the Magdalena, presents the appearance of a 

 casc[ue with great edges. The opening of it is so large 



