SPECIALISED BOTANY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 9 January 1929, Page 8

SPECIALISED BOTANY

THE “NO.SE-TWI!STING” FLOWER If you were asked to namo I lie flower that- is known as a “nose-twister,” would you be able to do so? If not, you may bo surprised to leant (bat it is the “nasturtium,” whose, name, is from two words —“nastis,” the nose, and “tortus,” twisted ; because the scent is so pungent its to make one’s nostril twist, it is among (lie most extraordinary of all garden Mowers, being remarkably .specialised for (lie, main task of its life, selling the seeds.

Highly specialised flowers often have lines on llieir petals lo show insects (lie way to the glands forming their larder, fn these nectar is stored—to bn turned hv bees into lionev.

Ilmiey-guidcs are strongly marked on lbe upper pair of the nasi ml i urn’s live

petals. They converge to show Iho way to tlic deep spur fi I led with what child itn call honey, when I hey bile Iho spur to Inste the sweet stul'f.

On tin! Iliree lower petals, which have no honey guides, will be seen formidable barricades, blocking the entrance to the tube, by the way of these petals. This remarkable fence of bristles stretches right across the faces of the lower petals. They keep at hay such climbing insects as ants, which might try to steal the honey but would be of no service to the (lower.

The flower passes through two stages of existence, the first as male, then as female, a botanist explains. When newly opened the stamens of the male arc in evidence. These bend upward so as to touch ami dust any insect hovering in the mouth. Then they fade away, laiter the stigma of the female so bends down as to occupy the identical place of the stamens, and is dusted by the insect visitors.