File:The natural history of plants, their forms, growth, reproduction, and distribution; (1902) (14578983898).jpg

Identifier: naturalhistoryof02kern (find matches)
Title: The natural history of plants, their forms, growth, reproduction, and distribution;
Year: 1902 (1900s)
Authors: Kerner von Marilaun, Anton, 1831-1898 Oliver, Francis Wall, 1864- Macdonald, Mary Frances Ewart Busk, Marian Balfour, Lady
Subjects: Botany
Publisher: London, Blackie
Contributing Library: NCSU Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: NCSU Libraries

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behas an irregular yellow ring round it. Those plants which have been calledtricolor on account of the various tints of their flowers, e.g. the three-colouredBindweed (Convolvulus tricolor), the Pansy (Viola tricolor), and the three-colouredVetch (Vicia tricolor), may also be quoted as examples. Sometimes the spots, points, and stripes standing up from the ground-colour ofthe flowers perform the double function of showing the entrance to the honeyeasiest for the approaching insects, and at the same time most advantageous to theplant itself. Of this we shall speak more particularly later on. But it would betoo much to say that all spots are to be regarded as signals or to call them honey-indicators or path-finders. They are found often enough in flowers fromwhich honey is altogether absent, as, for example, in those of Hibiscus Trionum,and of the opium and common red Poppies (Papaver somniferum and Rhceas),where their only use can be to show up the flowers. It should be noted here that
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Fig. 255.—Narcissus (Narcissus poeticus); the Corona inthe centre of the flower is fringed with a cinnabar-red border (black in the figure). COLOURS OF FLOWERS AS A MEANS OF ATTRACTING ANIMALS. 191 flowers with finely-marked petals are ardently sought for, indeed, almost exclusively,by flies. Many Orchids and Labiate flowers, but especially many Saxifrages(Saxifraga Aizoon, aizoides, hryoides, rotundifolia, stellaris, sarmentosa, &c.), arevery instructive examples. We cannot, indeed, explain what connection there isbetween the visits of flies and the yellow, red, or violet dots which in some speciessometimes change their colour during the period of flowering. But it is certainthat the minute red and yellow spots on the petals of these Saxifrages do notmake the flowers more visible or conspicuous to the human eye. A brilliant contrast is caused by the difference in the colours of the corolla andthe adjacent outspread bracts and sepals. The flower of Acanthus, whose uppersepal is

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