ilr. C. Darwin on the Fertilization of Orchids. 3 



the flowers ; but I could never see the minutest drop of nectar 

 within the nectary. Each bee remained a considerable time 

 with its proboscis in constant movement whilst inserted into 

 the nectary. I observed the same fact with Empis in the case 

 of Orchis mmulata ; and in this orchis I could occasionally 

 detect minute brown specks, where punctures had been made. 

 Hence the view suggested by me that insects puncture the 

 inner lining of the nectary and suck the fluid contained be- 

 tween the two coats may be safely accepted. I have said in 

 my work that this hypothesis was a bold one, as no instance 

 was known of Lepidoptera penetrating with their delicate pro- 

 boscides any membrane ; but I now hear from Mr. E. Trimen 

 tliat at the Cape of Good Hope moths and butterflies do much 

 injury to peaches and plums by penetrating the skin, in parts 

 which have not been in the least broken. 



Since the appearance of my loork, the following observations 

 have been published on other species o/Orchis and on certain allied 

 forms (p. 53) . — Mr. J. Traherne Moggridge has given ( Journ. 

 Linn. Soc. vol. viii. Botany, 1865, p. 2o&) a very interesting 

 account of the structure and manner of fertilization of Orchis 

 or Aceras longibracteata. Both pollinia, as in Anacampfis 

 pi/ramidalis, are attached to the same viscid disk ; but, differ- 

 ently from those in that species, after being removed from the 

 anther-cases, they first converge and then undergo the move- 

 ment of depression. But the most interesting peculiarity in 

 this species is that insects suck nectar out of minute open cells 

 in the honeycombed surface of the labellum. Mr. Moggridge 

 saw this plant fertilized by a large bee, the Xylocopa violacea. 

 He adds some observations on Orchis hircina, and describes 

 the structure and manner of fertilization of Serapias cordicjera 

 by another bee, viz. the Ceratina aJbilahris. In this Serapias 

 both pollinia are attached to the same viscid disk ; when first 

 withdrawn, they are bent backwards, but soon afterwards 

 move forwards and downwards in the usual manner. As the 

 stigmatic cavity is narrow, the pollinia are guided into it by 

 two guiding plates. 



Mr. Moggridge sent me from Northern Italy living plants 

 oWrchis or Neotinea tntacta, together with excellent drawings 

 and a full account of the structure of the flower.^ He informed 

 me that this species is remarkable for producing seed with- 

 out the aid of insects ; and I ascertained that when insects 

 were carefuUv excluded, almost all the flowers produced cap- 

 sules. Their fertilization follows from the pollen being ex- 

 tremely incoherent, and spontaneously falling on the stigma. 

 Nevertheless a short nectary is present, the pollinia possess 



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