184 



COLOURS OF FLOWERS AS A MEANS OF ATTRACTING ANIMALS. 



(Richardia cethiopica, Anthurivmi Scherzerianvm), and the Bromeliacese (Nid 

 laria, Lamprococcus, Pitcairnia). In some Proteacese, e.g. Protea globosa, t 

 uppermost foliage-leaves are grouped into a large outer envelope which surroun 

 the spherical golden-yellow inflorescence, and these crowded leaves are colour 



Fig. 252.— Colour-contrasts in Flowers. 



I Umbellate raceme of Lobularia nurmnularicBfolia with flowers and young fruits, 2 x single young flower of the same pli 

 8 A young fruit of the same plant with two of the enlarged white petals attached to it. * Flower spike of Lavana 

 Stmchas ending in a crest of empty blue bracts. 6 Umbellate raceme of Alyssum cuneatum with young flat open floT 

 in the centre and old closed flowers at the circumference. 8 Petal of a young flatly-opened flower of the same pi; 

 ? Petal of an old closed flower of the same plant. 8 Raceme of Muscari comosum ; the upper long-stalked flowers crow 

 into a head are sterile. ^ Inflorescence of Trifolium badium; the upper young flowers are light yellow, the old lo 

 drooping flowers are dark brown. 10 A branch from the inflorescence of Halimocnemis molUssima; the erect bladder- 

 appendages of the anthers protrude from the insignificant perianth and look like petals, n A single stamen of Halir 

 Tiemis mollissirna ; the connective rises above the anther in the form of a bladder-shaped appendage. 12 Inflorescenc 

 Comus fiorida surrounded by four large white bracts, is Cornflower (Centaurea Cyanus); the small flowers of the 

 are surrounded by large funnel-shaped sterile flowers, n Uaceme of Kemera saxatilis ; the ovaries in the centre of 

 old flowers are darkly coloured and surrounded by the enlarged petals, is Inflorescence of the umbelliferous Orl 

 grandiJloTa; the peripheral flowers radiate outwards, t-^ A siugle radiating flower of the same plant, i? Umbel 

 raceme of the Candytuft {Iberis amara); the outwardly -directed petals of the peripheral flowers are twice as largi 

 those which are turned towards the centre of the inflorescence. ^, », n are somewhat magnified ; the others natural s 



blue in contrast to the lower, scantier foliage, which has a grass-green colour, 

 order that the inflorescence should stand out the better. Even the stalks of flowi 

 and inflorescences whan brilliantly coloured may be seen from a distance and 



