86 THE AMERICAN NATURALIST [Vol.XLYI 



This conclusion is sustained by an examination of the 

 green flowers of eastern North America. In the terri- 

 tory east of the 102d meridian and northward of Xovth 

 Carolina and Tennessee there are 1,244 green or dull 

 colored flowers, of which 1,021 are anemophilous or hydro- 

 philous, while 223 are entomophilous or autogamous. 

 The wind-pollinated flowers are small and usually green- 

 ish, as in the 705 species of grasses and sedges, from 

 which the inference is commonly drawn that anemophily 

 and inconspicuousness are correlated. In the few excep- 

 tions (about 27 in the flora of the eastern states) where 

 anemophilous flowers have brighter hues, as in the golden 

 yellow aments of the yellow birch and the deep red pani- 

 cles of the field sorrel (Rumex Acetosella), the colors of 

 the small flowers are usually determined by the produc- 

 tion of yellow or red pigments in great abundance by the 

 vegetative organs— the entire plant of the field sorrel 

 being sometimes red-colored. 



Of the 223 green flowers, which are entomophilous or 

 autogamous, many have no petals, as fifteen species of 

 the Polygonaceae and eight species belonging to the 

 Caryophyllaceae, also in several Kosacese, in Acer sac- 

 charinum and Didiplis diandra. Many are self -fertilized, 

 as Triglochin and Scheuchzeria, and the orchids Ilabe- 

 naria hyperborea and Epipactis viridiflora, and the small 

 green flowers of Lechea and Penthorum sedoides. Some 

 have the petals caducous and depend upon their scent to 

 attract insects, as the Vitacess. Many are visited chiefly 

 by flies and the smaller bees, as various Melanthacea?, the 

 Smilacea*, and the green flowers of the Asclepiadacea). 

 A few species secrete nectar freely and attract numerous 

 visitors, as the rock maple, basswood and the dark green 

 pistillate flowers of Rhus typhina. Large green flowers, 

 which are fragrant, nocturnal and are pollinated by 

 moths, are found in exotic Solanace* and Orchidacea?. It 

 is obvious that bright coloration is less important to 

 moth flowers than a strong scent, since red and blue 



