2 04 



HARD WICKE'S SCIENCE- G OSSIP. 



common European representative, U. vegetans, of 

 similar habits, though it is not easy to see how 

 these could materially affect the beetle. 



In concluding these notes, it may not be out of 

 place to observe that the generic name under which 

 the beetle is usually mentioned is scarcely correct. 

 Doryphora is based upon a character not possessed by 

 the Colorado beetle, viz., a spear-point on the mesoster- 

 num (whence the American name " spearman," and 

 also the allusion conveyed by the spear in PiincJis 

 cartoon, which, bad as it is, is not so gross a caricature 

 as others not intended to be so) ; Leptinotarsa is 

 founded upon an unstable groove in the tibise ; 

 PolygraJimia has only coloration to recommend it, 

 and no structural points ; Myocoiyna is preoccupied 

 by Dejean in the same family; and Riley proposes a 

 new name, Thlibocoryiia, for the group, which is 

 closely allied to DorypJiora in the shape of its palpi. 

 No English beetle belongs to it, or is in any way 

 really like it ; our only large striped Chrysouicld is 

 the refulgent copper and green C. ccrcalis, found on 

 wild thyme on Snowdon. 



THE FERTILIZATION OF LESCHEN- 

 AULTIA FORMOSA. 



THE specific name of this plant was given by 

 Robert Brown. It is a native of Australia. 

 It is a small woody shrub, with linear, sub-coriaceous 

 leaves, about half an inch long. Flowers solitaiy, 

 terminal ; corolla monopetalous, with a deep scarlet 

 1)ilabiate limb ; the upper lip divided into three rather 

 irregular, slightly reflexed divisions ; the lower almost 

 boat-shaped, and partially surrounding the indusiate 

 stigma. It is a very pretty, and certainly most inter- 

 esting plant, and one admired by all plant-lovers. 



The genus belongs to the family Goodcniaceic : a 

 family of peculiar and interesting structure. A great 

 deal of interest resides in the indusium which sheaths 

 the stigma. The same structure is developed in the 

 genus Bi-unonia, and in the Styleivorts. The indu- 

 sium here referred to, and which is shown in fig. 1 60, a, 

 is a prolongation of the disk, that is, adnate to the 

 style; and it is to find out the object of this indusium 

 that we here treat upon it. 



Looking, then, at the front of the lower lip of the 

 flower, we see the indusium (fig. 159, a ; moreenlarged 

 fig. 160, a), which is two-lipped ; when the flower is 

 expanded, that upper lip is closed tight down ; the 

 lower lip is no doubt adnate to the stigma, or, 

 according to some, the true stigma is outside the 

 indusium entirely ; but, whether the latter is correct 

 or not, it is sufficient for our purpose to say that the 

 lower portion is tufted with hairs, and between the 

 hairs and the closed upper lip is tlic true stigmatic 

 surface. When in this state, the whole affair re- 

 sembles the mouth with the lips closed. 



Now, suppose we open the upper lip with a pin, 



we find a large quantity of pollen stored up in that 

 part of the indusium. Finding this, we naturally look 

 at the stamens, and only to find them shrivelled, with 

 their anther-cells devoid of pollen. How, ihen, did 

 the pollen get in the position we have found it ? To 

 obtain an answer to this question, a l)ud must be 

 dissected. No doubt the first bud is too young. 

 Another is dissected, almost ready to expand, and 



'59 



161 



Fig. 159. LcscJienaitltiaformosa, expanded flower. Fig. 160, 

 calyx and pistil, showing the indusiate stigma, a, magnified. 

 Fig. 161, stamens and pistil in a bud state, showing the pollen 

 being discharged from the anthers into the indusium (mag.). 



what satisfaction ! we find the pollen being discharged 

 from the anthers into the indusium (fig. 161), just as 

 coals are discharged into the holds of a ship ! How 

 beautiful ! It would be well to state here that the 

 flowers in a bud state are nearly erect, thus facilitating 

 the discharge of the pollen. After the indusium thus 

 receives the pollen, it quickly closes, and covers the 

 pollen, while the growtlr of the style is very rapid. 



It is now time to ask Nature this question : why 

 is the pollen thus stored up ? First, tliat it should 

 not be lost, since the anthers discharge their pollen 

 before the stigma is ready to i-eceive it. And, 

 secondly, to ensure a most peculiar and beautiful 

 method of cross-fertilization. And we must bear in 

 mind, that although the pollen is in such close con- 

 tiguity with the stigma, it cannot reach it, nor can 

 the ovules be fertilized without some foreign agency. 

 Suppose, then, a small insect to alight upon the lower 

 lip of the corolla, and in search of nectar down the 

 tube (although we have never found any nectar, but 

 we arc pleased to say that Mr. Darwin's observations 

 differ in this respect, as he states that the flowers 

 contain a copious supply of nectar), the under part of 

 the insect would easily push back the indusium, thus 

 exposing the pollen to the insect, and to which the 



