210 MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN. 



The pistil differs materially from that of the true Yuccas 

 in having the ovary free from those longitudinal depres- 

 sions which usually correspond with the appressed stamens, 

 and in possessing a short contracted style surmounted by a 

 capitate stigma, green toward the center, where it appears 

 slightly indented, and covered with very long hyaline deli- 

 cate papilla which are always moist with abundant secre- 

 tion that at length becomes almost gelatinous over the 

 middle of the stigma. From the central depression of 

 the stigma, a fine but unobstructed canal passes down 

 the style and communicates with the top of the cells 

 of the ovary. The nectar apparatus is well developed, the 

 septal glands, though narrow, commonly reaching to the 

 base of the ovary, while the conducting groove is of cor- 

 responding size. My observations lead to the conclusion 

 that the glands, though smaller than in the Jilamentom 

 group, are more active than in other species studied by me, 

 with the possible exception of gloriosa and Guatemaiemis, 

 for I have repeatedly seen considerable drops of nectar at the 

 basal outlets of the grooves, especially in the early morn- 

 ing or in damp foggy weather when evaporation was slow, 

 and in pendent flowers similar drops have been seen several 

 times over the grooves at either the middle or top of the 

 ovary, along the smooth surface of which they had appar- 

 ently rolled from the outlets of the conducting grooves. 



Professor Riley has shown that Whipplei is pollinated 

 by a distinct Pronuba, which he names P. maculata, of a 

 white general color, but somewhat variously mottled with 

 black, especially towards the ends of the win«\s.* He 

 records the occurrence of the moth in the vicinity of San 

 Diego, Los Angeles, Newhall, and Caliente. I have also 

 taken specimens at Summit in the Cajon Pass, at Saugus, 

 San Luis Obispo, and along the Santa Ynez river above 

 Santa Barbara, besides seeing evidence of its work in the 



* I. c. 121, 139; Insect Life, iv. 370, note. For other notes by the 

 same author, see Proc. Ent. Soc. Washington, 1888, i. 154, and Insect 

 Life, i. 372. 



