94 MR. F. W. KEEBLE ON 



the tube, whereby this latter flattens out. That it has a direct value in preventing the 

 corolla's tube from rough usage on the part of the visiting nectar-seeking bird, is 

 rendered probable by the fact that the base of the cleft is often prolonged by a jagged 

 tear, the work of the bird visitor. This tearing, it will be at once admitted, would be 

 much greater were no wide cleft present. In Loranthus lonicei^oides many flowers, and 

 even buds, show at the base of the corolla irregularly oval holes which are made by 

 birds' bills. The case is interesting, for, as is well known, many flowers are similarly 

 pierced by bees, e.g. Erica Tetralix, Linn., Trifolium pratense, Linn., &c.* 



In those species of Loranthus which have a deep throat-like cleft in the corolla-tube, 

 such robberies, whereby the pollen-carrying is evaded, do not occur. 



Having thus described the peculiarities of the flower, its regularity in the bud (with 

 the exception often of a gibbous inflation of the tube in such species as L. tomentosus, 

 &c.), and especially the curious basifugal way of opening in L. longiflorus, L. neelgher- 

 rensis, &c., it now remains to mention what is the most interesting feature, and one 

 which gives significance to the basal separation of the lobes of the corolla. 



The most noticeable appearance in a bush of Z/. loniceroides is the large number of 

 fully mature flower-buds contrasted with the number of open flowers. The explanation 

 is simple. The flower-bud of L. loniceroides, though fully developed in all respects, 

 remains closed. If the apex of the corolla of such a flower-bud be gently struck, the 

 lobes fly apart, exposing stigma and ripe pollen-bearing stamens. These lobes, once 

 released, continue, by growth of their inner surfaces, to bend backward till they 

 are reflexed on themselves (fig. 11, PI. X., and fig. 8, PL XL, &c.) ; and there is no doubt 

 that fully developed flower-buds remain closed, when all that is required for the release 

 of the adherent apices of the lobes is a gentle tap. Such a tap is provided by the 

 fertilizing agent, a bird (a species of Nectarinia) ; and I would suggest that this remaining 

 closed of the ripe flowers is an instance of close relationship, beneficial to both "parties," 

 between flower and fertilizer ; the bird knows it is worth its while to " tap a new barrel" 

 as it were ; moreover, the parts of the flower are protected from the damaging eff'ects of 

 exposure to wet. 



Such exploding flowers are by no means confined to this species {L. loniceroides), but 

 in a more or less degree characterize the Cingalese large-flowered Loranths, e. g. : — 



L^ longiflorus : corolla less fleshy and less rigid than L. loniceroides^ so explosions less 

 vigorous (fig. 11, PI. X.). 



L. neelghe7^rensis and L. cuneattis : smaller flowers than above ; basifugal slits occur 

 between lobes ; explosions small, but none the less efficient (fig. 1 c, PL X., & fig. 3 a-e, 

 PL XL). 



L. suborbicularis, L. tomentosus : explosions well marked, especially in the variety 

 lanuginosus of the latter, in whose flowers the noise of the separating lobes (on being 

 struck at the apex with a pencil for example) can be heard several yards away (tig. 1, 

 PL XL). 



This explosive action of the corolla-lobes throws light on the meaning of the slits 

 (fig. 11, PL X., &c.) which in various species appear at the lobes' bases. These are 



* Darwin, ' Cross- and Self-fertilization,' p. 429. 



