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waste ground or neglected corner of a park will be brightened by the blooms of wildflowers. Studying wildflowers needs only a minimum of equipment. Nothing more than an observant nature is needed to start with but a small pocket magnifying glass to help identify flowers too tiny to study with the unaided eye, but it will also help the flower lover to appreciate the beauty of larger flowers. To some people, certain wildflow- ers are classed as weeds. This rather derogatory term gives quite the wrong impression of some very beautiful flow- ers. A weed is simply a plant growing in the wrong place. It may compete with vegetables or herbs in our gardens for

valuable growing space or water, or spoil the immaculate appearance of a well-tended lawn. It is still worth a close look, however, for it will have flowers of its own and will be visited by insects like many other plants. It may have an interesting history, for some of the plants considered to be troublesome weeds now were once used as medicinal or culinary herbs, which is how they happened to be so common in towns and gardens. At once time, people depended on the plants around them for food, flavorings, med- icine and even magic potions! Before throwing away an uprooted weed, take the time to look closely at it; studying wildflowers can begin very close to home.

Orchids have elaborate flowers, and this slipper orchid, Paphiopedilum callosum from Southeast Asia shows how the petals have formed a tube-like struc- ture to enclose the anthers and stigma. A visiting insect must probe down inside the tube for nectar, and in the process will pick up the pollen.

The deserts of Arizona are brightened by the stunning flowers of the barrel cactus. Safe from grazing animals with their protection of spines, these flowers are visited by both hummingbirds (attracted by the red color), and large insects.

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