No. 439-] NORTHERN GAMOPETALOUS FLOWERS. 473 



of much interest from their supposed similarity in origin and 

 composition to the pigment granules. According to this author 

 the chromoplastids have their origin in the nuclear chromatin, 

 and are designed to protect the organism from the chemical and 



pigments. The four great divisions of the Alga are character^ 

 ized by the presence of a green, blue, brown, or red pigment, 

 which in the last three classes is so abundant as to completely 

 mask the chlorophyll. The Fungi display many brilliant colors, 

 which in the Phalloideae become ecologically important, and pro- 

 phetic of their attractive office among the Phaenogams. In 

 this family flesh flies are allured by the bright coloring, associ- 

 ated with a sweet substance and a nauseous scent, and aid in 

 disseminating the spores. In their form and vivid colors the 

 Balanophoraceae show a marked resemblance to Fungi. Many 

 conifers and deciduous shrubs and trees display a bright yellow 



