v.] 



BORAGE. 



137 



the tube, and divides at the end into two short 

 branches, with terminal stigmas. In this species, 

 therefore, cross-fertilisation is favoured ; firstly, by 

 the fact that the stamens ripen before the stigmas ; 

 and, secondly, by the relative position of the two, the 

 stigmas, as we have seen in so many other cases, 

 projecting somewhat beyond the stamens. Under 

 these circumstances cross-fertilisation is so thoroughly 



FIG. 95. Borago officinalis. 



secured, that the plant is said to have lost the 

 power of fertilising itself. Miiller observed no less 

 than 67 species of insects on the flowers of this 

 plant : some of which (Osmia adunca and O. ccemen- 

 tarid) seem to confine themselves to it. 



In the Borage (Borago officinalis, Fig. 95) we find 

 an arrangement of the stamens and pistils very 



