380 REV. GEORGE HENSLOW ON THE 
Summary of the chief adaptations of the various parts of plants 
to secure self-fertilization. | 
Bracts.—These may assist in those genera of the Compositze which close their heads — 
in the evening, as do Taraxicum &c. 
Calyx.—The same remark applies to the calyx; for the sepals afford no special aid, - 
but only indirectly by pressing on the corolla in bud, and so keeping the essential organs ` 
in contact with one another. 
Corolla.—This effects fertilization in some cases by withering, and so matting together 
the anthers and stigmas, either habitually, as in Hypericum, Convolvulus, &c., or perhaps - 
only occasionally, as in the Pansy, and accidentally, as in the Tradescantia mentioned | 
above; in others by closing at evening or in diffused sunlight, as is the case with Butter 
cups and Anagallis, Mesembryanthema, Erythrea, Ke, 
Stamens. —(a) By the clustering of their anthers around the stigmas, both, of course, ` 
maturing together. This is by far the commonest method, as, e. g., in Buttercups and 
with the long stamens of the Crucifere, Stellaria media, Spergula, cleistogamous Oxalis ` 
Acetosella, small-flowered Leguminose, Epilobium parviflorum and E. tetragonum, Ze 
(b) By their arching over the pistil. This is conspicuously the case in Potentilla Fra- 
gariastrum, as also in Galium Aparine, Alisma Plantago, as described above, in whic 
the anthers are even extrorse. (c) By having the anthers specially situated, wit 
reference to the stigma, as in Fumaria, cleistogamous Violets, Polygala vulgaris, Oro 
banche Hedere, Salvia clandestina, and garden species of Calceolaria, &c. 5 
Pistil.—(a) By « curvature of style, so as to bring the stigma into contact with the 
anther-eells. This is effected by its growth under confinement in the unopened bud, e. g. 
cleistogamous Violets, Lamium amplezicaule, Rhinanthus and Euphrasia, Glaus mari- 
tima, and abnormally i in Tradescantia erecta. (b) By arrest of growth of the style, as in 
pale-flowering Pelargonium, non-dimorphie Primule with depressed stamens, Prunella 
vulgaris. (c) By elongating the style, as in non-dimorphie Primule with elevated sta 
mens. (d) By stigmas recurving: Malva rotundifolia and other small-flowering species 
Viola tricolor, var. arvensis, Taraxicum Dens- Leonis, Salvia clandestina, Pinigai 
lusitanica. (e) By the development of abnormal stigmatiferous tissue, as in the small 
flowering variety of Viola tricolor, var. arvensis. (f) By the flower being pendulous. 
Mr, Meehan alludes to this in Ranunculus abortivus, and Solanum nigrum may be added* 
9. Conservation of energy is seen in the reduction of the number of Mni 
and of the quantity of pollen. 
decore ml "ree are generally subject to this phenomenon. The following speci ! 
e tis perhaps worth while observing that the old teleological idea of pendulous and erect flowers always having 
the anthers situated at a higher level than the stigmas, and thereby being specially designed for self-fertilization, i 
not only far from being the case, but when they are so, it may with tolerable certainty be suspected of being not 
adapted for self- but for cross-fertilization ; for had Nature intended the pollen to reach the stigma, the anthers 
would be placed in contact with it, and not at some distance above it, a position which involves the possibility of a loss 
of pollen by the wind without its "pr the stigma at all, Such Sowas as posso! A are owes, moreover _ 
icc cote : 
