THE FLORIDA STRANGLING FIGS. 27 



and gall producing pistillate flowers in the same receptacle, 

 the receptacle being axillary to the smooth, entire leaves. 

 The staminate flowers have but one stamen. Each flower is 

 subtended by a small bract while several rows of bracts sur- 

 round the opening of the receptacle. The staminate flowers 

 are scattered among the others and do not come to maturity 

 until the fruit is ripe. Pollination is accomphshcd by species 

 of Blastophaga y different in the two figs. These reach ma- 

 turity with the seeds at the time that the receptacle is about 



r 



to begin to ripen pomologically. Just at this time the stamin- 

 ate flowers reach maturity so that the pollen is shed while 

 the insects are emerging from the galls. The fecundated 

 females become covered with pollen in their search for the 

 point of exit from the mature receptacle. They seek out the 

 young receptacles in which the pistillate flowers are just ready 

 for pollination. Usually but one, occasionally two insects 

 enter a receptacle, losing their wings as they force their way 

 between the outer scales which surround the opening. These 

 scales are appresscd tightly in several series but loosen up 

 at the time when the flowers are ready for pollination, per- 

 mitting the Blastophaga to force her way between them with 

 not too much difficulty. As the insect works around over 

 the flowers in the act of depositing her eggs she leaves on the 

 receptive stigmas the pollen adhering to the hairs that cover 

 her body and appendages. But one egg is laid in each flower, 

 the ovipositor apparently being inserted down the hollow of 

 the style, the egg being placed in the upper part of the ovary 

 upon the top of the ovule, where it was observed in several 

 cases. Counts were made in several mature receptacles of 

 both species to determine the number of flowers in which 

 Blastophaga larvae developed and of those developing seeds. 

 This is shown in the accompanying tables ; 





