SELF-FERTILIZATION OF PLANTS. 879 
stigmas, but afterwards, by becoming reflexed, as well as by the styles now spreading, to 
be self-fertile. The stamens and carpels mature well before the buds expand. The anthers 
are extrorse, but the filaments become strongly curved backwards, so that the anthers 
hang more or less over the stigmas, though dehiscing upwards. The styles are long, and 
bend backwards and outwards over the ovaries. The anthers burst just as the perianth 
expands, or even a little before, and the stigmas are mature to receive it. The flowers 
are not very conspicuous, and every carpel is “set” (Tab. XLIV. fig. 37). If it be self- 
fertilizing, then we may, I think, safely believe the other species of Alisma to be so as 
well; and I would include Scheuchzeria and Triglochin also, as being most probably 
golf fartiliziny’s but I have had no opportunity of examining them. 
I now find Dr. Müller has seen certain Diptera to be attracted by the small honey- 
glands between the stamens of Alisma Plantago; yet he adds, this species is very pro- 
bably self-fertilized as well. In his figures he draws the styles erect, though still 
possessing a bend near the base; while the anthers are drawn spreading far away from 
the carpels. In this condition shy are evidently specially adapted for intercrossing ; 
whereas in the later stage they appear to offer better facilities for self-fertilization. Under 
this interpretation we see the use of the * bend " in the style in the latter cases, but its 
“uselessness ” in the flowers figured by Müller. 
JUNCACEJE.—Members of this family are strongly proterogynous; but Juncus bufo- 
nius is remarkable by bearing in parts of Russia only cleistogamic flowers, which 
contain three, instead of six anthers found in the perfect flowers” (Darwin). It is the 
most widely dispersed species (see p. 393). 
GRAMINE®.—Grasses are mostly anemophilous ; but some are self-fertilizing, and others 
even cleistogamous*. Thus, *In the genus Hordeum it has been shown by Delpino 
that the majority of the flowers are ee some of the others expanding and 
apparently allowing of cross-fertilization.” (Tab. XLIV. fig. 38. See description, p. 398.) 
Leersia oryzoides. ‘The cleistogamic flowers are very small, and usually mature 
their seeds within the sheaths of the leaves” CG Forms of Flowers,’ p. 333). This appears 
to be the only species of this genus which bears cleistogamic flowers; and what is 
particularly interesting to me is that it ranges from Persia to North America; so “there 
can therefore be little doubt that this plant generally propagates itself throughout an 
immense area by cleistogamic seeds, and that it can hardly ever [never ?] be invigorated 
by eross-fertilisation ” (J. c. p. 335). 
Poa annua. This has already been alluded to as a good instance of a self-fertilizing 
plant ripening its seeds with astonishing rapidity. Our London parks are much in- 
debted to this little plant and its extraordinary powers of propagation. 
Hordeum murinum. The central floret of the spikelets appears always cleistogamous 
(Tab. XLIV. fig. 38). 
* Mr. A. S, Wilson, in a paper on the * Fertilization of Cereals,’ contributed to the Transactions of the Botanical 
Society of Edinburgh, thinks that the European cereals are self-fertilized, and that the act of fertilization in those 
eases in which the flower opens is probably performed in the opening, and is necessarily confined to the twenty or 
thirty minutes’ duration in which the flower remains open. Mr. Bennett, in his notice of this paper, controverts, en - 
= a ihn, mins xoa : A. 
