Note 30 — Chapter XIV · HABIT OF GROWTH IN PLANTS
Reading edition
A single flower of the Heracleum giganteum would not be specially noticeable, but when hundreds of them are grouped together in a huge umbelliferous head they form a most striking object, as may be seen in the plate. I have often watched the swarms of flies, beetles, and bees visiting these attractive blossoms on sunny days, and the great umbels of seed in autumn showed how effectually the insects had carried out their work of fertilisation.