Flowers and Their Friends

How flowers and insects came to need each other, explained to children by a teacher who refused to talk down — “it would be very stupid indeed to try to read a book written in Arabic,” she begins, so look up every word you don't know.

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The Tropæolum

LIKE the morning-glory flower, the tropæolum, or nasturtium, as we usually call it, has several important organs. It has a pistil and stamens, and plenty of rich nectar.

Its corolla, as you know, is large and showy, but it is not in the form of a tube. It is divided into several distinct pieces called petals.

And what is that we see-that
And what is that we see-that

Its calyx, too, is not green, but is colored somewhat like the corolla.

And what is that we see-that long red horn?

That is the tropæolum's nectary.

It is framed from the calyx, in which certain of the sepals have grown together to form this horn of plenty.

it is not in the form of a tube. It is divided
it is not in the form of a tube. It is divided

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