This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1917 edition. Excerpt: ... being," and certainly the laurel has this excuse in full measure, for without doubt it is one of America's loveliest of native flowers. But we know too much about the ways of the flowers to suppose that the beauty of this one alone has helped it to survive long ages of competition, and when it blooms ...
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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1917 edition. Excerpt: ... being," and certainly the laurel has this excuse in full measure, for without doubt it is one of America's loveliest of native flowers. But we know too much about the ways of the flowers to suppose that the beauty of this one alone has helped it to survive long ages of competition, and when it blooms we straightway pry into its waxen chalice, and seek to discover the secret of its fair victory. Like the rhododendron and the Andromeda, its anthers are twin meal-bags full of pollen, mounted upon long, spring-like filaments forming veritable catapults. Each corolla is provided with a ring of twelve small pockets, which gently hold the anthers and keep the filaments curved back in a state of tension, all round the central pistil. Thus the flower blooms, and thus it will remain unless some evening a nightmoth, attracted by the white Mountain Laurel' blossoms and by their fragrance, arrives and reaching down for nectar disturbs the arrangement of the stamens. A little touch will derange the equilibrium and one or several anthers will be released from their pockets; they will fly up with a quick snap, and their pollen will be thrown up forcibly against the moth's body and cling to his woolly covering. And it should be noticed that if the moth brings pollen from another flower he is likely to leave some on the prominent stigma, while his body, at the moment. of the explosion, acts as a bulwark to protect the pistil from the discharge of the numerous little catapults he has set in action. No more perfect mechanism could be devised, but the wonder of it is that it can exist in such frail and diaphanous material, and that it can come into existence within a bud, its complex parts first folded and distorted, but sure to unfold, adjust...
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PLEASE NOTE, WE DO NOT SHIP TO DENMARK. New Book. Shipped from UK in 4 to 14 days. Established seller since 2000. Please note we cannot offer an expedited shipping service from the UK.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
PLEASE NOTE, WE DO NOT SHIP TO DENMARK. New Book. Shipped from UK in 4 to 14 days. Established seller since 2000. Please note we cannot offer an expedited shipping service from the UK.
