
NATURAL ORDERS | oat 
the carpels that are now standing upright in the path of the 
bee. Owing to the fact that the carpels are not ripe until 
after the withering of the stamens, self-pollination is impos- 
sible. All this may be observed in old-fashioned gardens, 
where Monkshood is often planted, especially in the north of 
Kngland and Scotland. : 
Like Monkshood, the calyx of Larkspur is very 
conspicuous, consisting of five blue sepals that 
have practically the function of petals, for they attract the 
~ humble-bees. 3 
Larkspur. 
ao as 59 

Fic. 58.—Front VIEW oF LARKSPUR. 
p.p, posterior petals; a.p, anterior petals ; s, space between posterior 
and anterior petals with two anthers in it. 
Fig. 59.—Stpe View Mepian VERTICAL SECTION OF LARKSPUR. 
s.p, spur of posterior sepal covering spur of petal; jt, flower-stalk ; 
@, stamens ; ¢, carpels. 
The posterior sepal, which is spurred, covers the nectaries, 
its rough and crumpled wall serving as a protection against 
vain. Into this spur of the calyx fit the spurs of the two 
posterior petals; it is these that make and hold the honey, — 
which is thus doubly protected ; the two anterior petals, with 
their bundles of upright, yellow hairs, serve as path-finders. 
The bee, alighting on the flower, presses its proboscis into 
the space between the posterior and anterior petals, in order 

