THE LOEANTHACE^ OF CEYLON. 



93 



important effect of exposing tlie dehiscent surfaces of all five stamens to one side (the 

 upper) of the bird's beak, so that the pollen is rubbed on the wliole of that surface. 

 Since the stigma, projecting beyond the stamens, is so placed that it too will touch this 

 upper surface, it is clear that the confinement of the pollen to this surface, effected in 

 the manner just described, tends to render pollination more certain. A further move- 

 ment in Some species adds to the apparently irregular form of the flower. In such 

 species as Loranthns cuneatiis^ L. tomentosus, and L. snhorhicuhiris (figs. \hyZc^ PI. XI.) 

 the filaments bend down almost at right angles to tlieir points of insertion, so that the 

 anthers stand over the "throat." The style bends similarly down and j^i'ojects beyond 

 the stamens, so that self-fertilization is largely insured against. 



In the bud tlie style is sinuous, owing to its length being greater than that of the 

 corolla ; on the opening of the latter the style straightens out {cf. woodcut 1 a with fig. 11, 

 PI. X.). In the species L. longiflorus, to which these figures refer, the style, whilst in 



Fig. 1. 



\a 



the bud, is included in the stamina! ring and is surrounded by downwardly-pointing 

 hairs Avhich arise from the bases of the anthers (see woodcut 1 b). That the style does 

 straighten out in the bud, thereby tending to open the flower, seems to indicate that, in 

 this species, the order of events is the opening of the flower, separation and reflexion of 

 the lobes, whereby the stamens are separated one from another, and, in consequence, 

 release of the style. The significance of the style's non-assistance in the opening of the 

 flower will be seen later. In the Loranths of Ceylon nectar is very plentiful ; it often, 

 in such species as L. longiflorus^ fills the corolla-tube, from whose general surface it 

 seems to be secreted. In addition to this nectar, a dr()j:> is lodged in L. longiflorus 

 behind the base of each filament between it and the corolla-lob(\ 



In such species as L. longiflorus, whilst the flower is yet closed, slits appear between 

 the bases of the corolla-lobes (fig. 11, PI. X.). They gradually widen, making five 

 narrow inlets, whereby small insects can and do get to the honey ; the pollen, however, 

 remains protected by the closed upper parts of the corolla-lobes. 



The cleft or throat already described, which occurs in the corolla-tubes of various 

 species, is no doubt correlated with the growth of the inner surface of the upper part of 



o2 



