HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



187 



by the dead bodies of the flies which it entangles, 

 is a theory of my own, in so far as it relates to 

 the sun-dew, but I have little doubt that it is a 

 correct one." He adds that Sir J. E. Smith was 

 aware that the American plant Dioncea muscipula is 

 " to a certain extent nourished by the insects which it 

 catches." The "viscous dew" of the Drosera is 

 simply vegetable pepsine. The author made one 

 curious mistake respecting it, that he supposed its 

 purpose was " to prevent small insects from infesting 

 the leaves." It is more likely that they are attracted 

 by it, as the aphis is by the "honey-dew" on the 

 leaves of the lime-tree. One of the best examples 

 of a fly-trap is furnished by Arum tnaculatum. If 

 the spathe is cut open, the ball at the lower part will 

 generally be found full of flies. They creep in, at- 

 tracted by the strong scent of the spadix, and are 

 prevented from returning by the fringe of deflexed 

 hairs which fill the constricted part, or neck of the 

 spathe. — F. A. Paly. 



Cardamine and Matthiola. — It may interest 

 your readers to hear that a quantity of the common 

 cuckoo flower [Cardamine pratensis] has been found 

 growing double near Chichester, in a paddock 

 adjoining Mundham House, the residence of Mr. 

 Hillier, who has kindly forwarded me several fine 

 plants, a specimen of which I enclose. When staying 

 near Freshwater a week or two ago, I gathered some 

 enormous specimens of Orchis morio near the fort at 

 Colvvell Bay ; some of the flowers are deep purple, 

 others salmon colour, some pure white, destitute of 

 spots ; the flowers were so thickly crowded together 

 all round the stem, that I had to pick many off before 

 I could succeed in drying a specimen. Dr. Bromfield, 

 in his " Flora Vectensis," states that the Morio is 

 scentless ; these were, however, very fragrant, in fact, 

 so overpowering was the scent I had to turn them 

 out of my room. I may also add that the cliffs from 

 Freshwater Gate to Compton Bay, a distance of about 

 two miles, abounded with remarkably fine plants of 

 Alatthiolaincana — most of which, however, were grow- 

 ing in inaccessible places. The flowers were much 

 darker and smaller than those I gathered last year 

 at Ventnor, and the plants much more bushy. As 

 Freshwater is supposed to be its only bond fide habitat 

 in a wild state, it is satisfactory to know that there 

 is thus no danger of its being extirpated. — F. A. Brent, 

 Pellhnrst Villa, Ryde. 



Monstrosity of Geum rivale.— Allow me to 

 draw attention to a monstrosity of Geum rivale. The 

 plant grew by the side of a brook. It was about 

 eighteen inches high, with several flowers, each having 

 the following peculiarities, more or less developed 

 according to the aestivation of each flower. Instead 

 of drooping (as is usually the case), each flower stood 

 erect ; the calyx consisted of five unequal sepals, 

 having all the appearance of true leaves, with five 

 minute brown sepals alternating with the larger ones. 



Of the corolla nothing can be said, only that it was 

 double, each petal being of the usual form and colour. 

 The stamens were much less in number than in an 

 ordinary specimen. The carpels formed the usual 

 globular head, but instead of being on the same level 

 as the stamens, were borne on an elongation of the 

 pedicel, which passed through the centre of the flower, 

 so that they were situated fully two inches above the 

 other parts. At their base were five lanceolate green 

 bracts.— J. T. C. Williams. 



Science-Gossip Botanical Exchange Club.— 

 We are glad to be able to inform our members that 

 we have a large parcel of excellently-dried specimens 

 of British Rubi, all localised, and best of all, they 

 are all trustworthy examples of this intricate genus. 

 We hope this valuable gift will bring us many more 

 members ; a parcel will also be sent to those who, 

 although unable to contribute specimens for the 

 year's distribution, send the London Catalogue with 

 the nominal subscription. 



Shower of Pollen. — Being at Windsor on 

 Sunday, June 8, my attention was taken by a 

 yellowish scum floating on the surface of the puddles 

 during a sharp shower about 6 P.M. On putting it 

 under the microscope it turns out to be pollen of some 

 kind : see sketch at three hundred diameters. Is it the 



Fig. 148. — Magnified pollen-grains which fell in the " Pollen- 

 shower." 



Finns australis mentioned by your correspondent in 

 p. 138? The fall was pretty general, having been 

 noticed at Eton, Slough, and Frogmore; has any one 

 else noticed it ?— H. G. Wheeler. 



Vegetable " Commensalism." — I wonder 

 whether botanists will ultimately discover that 

 certain plants are " commensal," as well as certain 

 animals such as Professor van Beneden has told 

 us of in his "Animal Messmates." For several 

 years past, I have been particularly struck by the 

 occurrence in the eastern counties of the Yellow- 

 wort (Chlora perfoliata) so constantly in company 

 with the Bee-orchis {Ophrys apifera), that when I 

 have found one plant I have almost instinctively 

 looked for the other. Has this association been noted 

 elsewhere ? It seems possible to imagine that flowers 

 generally obscure should reap some advantage by 

 erowinjT in the neighbourhood of more attractive 



