SELF-FEBTILIZATION IN TBOPICAL OECHTD8. 541 



grows, the anther ruptures and rotates forward, and when it has 

 described about 90°, it occupies the position which, if it possessed 

 a rostellum, it would naturally retain; but having none, it 

 continues to rotate through about 70° more till it comes in con- 

 tact with the face of the column, that is with the stigmatic 

 cavity, which is very large, broad, and full of viscid matter. The 

 whole surface of the lower four pollinia come into contact with 

 the viscid matter and sink well into it ; and this viscid matter 

 finds its way gradually into the whole anther. The inner 

 members of the upper row of pollinia sometimes escape the 

 inundation, but it seems of little benefit to the plant for its cross- 

 fertilization, for they invariably remain covered by the anther- 

 cap. The tips of the caudicles, however, remain in most cases 

 unaffected throughout ; but I have found it difficult to remove 

 any of the grains of their pollen, for they are not at all viscid ; 

 and by the time the Phaius has fully expanded, the viscid matter 

 has generally become of too cheesy a consistency for an insect 

 to force any of it on to the caudicles or even to remove any 

 particle of it at all. The inundated pollinia have no obstacles to 

 bar the way of their tubes to the ovary. On cutting open the 

 front of the column, and excavating the mass of cheesy pollinia 

 and their tubes with a blunt pointed instrument, the stigmatic 

 cavity is left empty ; it can then be seen that from nearly the 

 top of the column, along the posterior median line, a prominent 

 ridge runs down almost to the ovarium. In the light afforded 

 by the dissection of an Arundina speciosa to be mentioned after- 

 wards, this would appear~to represent the absent rostellum. 

 Large seed-capsules were produced by every flower of this form. 

 When fertilization has taken place, the flowers close up, and by 

 continued vertical rotation turn their heads towards the earth. 



In many instances I have found as many as three super- 

 numerary anthers on the top of the column, on each side of the 

 ordinary central one. 



My first acquaintance with P. Blutnei was in a specimen which 

 had been under cultivation for about a year. I was for a time 

 uncertain whether these peculiarities might not be the result of 

 cultivation, but I have since found numerous examples in a state 

 of nature, presenting the same appearances in every respect. 



Here, then, we have an Orchid presenting every attraction to 

 insects to pay the flower, at least, a first visit (when they would 

 find no nectar)-a large showy flower, with some perfume which 

 is not disagreeable, a distinct nectary, an attractive labellum 



