1050 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVI. 



only "099 gm. The inversion therefore is clearly due to one-side weight. 

 The flowers open from 5 to 10 a.m.,* and are visited by the common butter- 

 flies. 



A similar peculiarity in floral biology has been recordedf for a species 

 of Erythrina, viz., in E. crista galli a Brazilian species where the flower is 

 said to be twisted through 180° (supination) so as to bring the standard 

 downwards which affords the landing place for visitors. 



n. 



Pollination in Erythrina indica, Lamk. 



According to Scott-Elliot| the flowers of Erythrina caffra (S. Africa) are 

 ornithophilous, but the birds get dusted with pollen on their breasts. 

 This observer also studied the arrang'irnenfc in E. indica in Mauritius and 

 says it is the same as in E. caffra. 1 am able to confirm this by my own 

 observation in the Agricultural College, Botanical Garden, in February last. 

 In this species which is common in S. India the wing and keel petals ara 

 much reduced and form a kind of cup in which the nectar is stored. The 

 standard is large and bright, scarlet in colour but does not provide 

 the platform for visitors. The flowers are densely and spirally arranged 

 on the axes which radiate horizontally from the ends of branches. The 

 stamens and pistil diverge from the standard and the stigma abruptly 

 bends towards the standard. Scot-Elliot§ wrongly savs it is below the 

 anthers. It is on the other hand projected a little forward. 



Between 8 and 9 in the morning I have seen crows making a prolonged 

 stay in the branches and drinking nectar freely from the flowers. Fine 

 little birds with long beaks and yellow breasts (?) which I have often 

 observed in Morinya and Adhatoda are also constant visitors. These hop 

 along the peduncle and thrust their beaks between the keel and the 

 staminal column and drink the sweet juice. It is also a pleasing sight to 

 see squirrels gently walk along the peduncle and taste the nectar. The 

 plant really trades on very liberal terms with these creatures. To my 

 great surprise I was able to draw 1^ C.C. of the nectar from 30 flowers. 

 This comes to 5 C.C. per 100 ! 



P. S. JIVANNA RAO, m.a. 

 Lawley Road, P.O., Coimbatobe, 

 7th August 1919. 



* C. E. C. Fischer in Bomb. Nat. Hist. Journ. Vol., XVII, p. 405. 

 t Knufch, Hanibook of Flower Pollination, Vol. 11, p. 338. 

 X Aanals of Botany, Vol. IV, p. 263. 

 § Ibid. 



