Vol. VII, pp. 81-104 May, 1892 



PROCEEDINGS 



OF THE 



BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON. 



\^- 



SOME INTERRELATIONS OF PLANTS AND INSECTS* 



BY C. V. RILEY. Pfl. D. 



It is my purpose to-night to present some phases of the curi- 

 ous interrelations between plants and insects. In doing this I 

 shall not have time to deal with the remarkable series of results 

 that have followed the more careful and accurate investigation 

 of the so-called insectivorous or carnivorous plants, and which 

 have shown tliat these plants are not only possessed of the power 

 of movement depending upon nerve stimuli, that may be likened 

 in almost every respect to the automatic movements of animals, 

 but that they actually possess digestive powers and properties 

 which, chemically and functionally, are the same as those by 

 which animals digest their food. It is my desire rather to call 

 your attention to certain phases of plant fertilization by insects. 



* This communication was presented for the most part extemporane- 

 oush', with the aid of stereoptioon views. In prei)arino- it, by request, for 

 the printer, I have assumed that the facts ah-eady pul)hshed in reference 

 to Yucca polhnation are famihar to the members of the Society, and have 

 presented in the briefest manner such only as throw light on the philo- 

 sophical portion of the article. The descriptive portion is condensed 

 from a more extended paper recently jjrepared for the Annual Report of 

 the Missouri Botanical Garden, but not yet published, and the illustra- 

 trations are for the most part borrowed in advance from that paper. 

 Figures 8, 10, 11, 12, and 13, however, are from my previous publications; 

 Figure 6 was prejjared spc^cially from the stereopticon slide ; and Figures 

 2, 3, and 4 are from the Department of Agriculture and used by permis- 

 sion of Assistt\nt Secretaiy Willits. 



11 — P.ioi,. Sn, ., Wash.. Vni,. Vll, 1892. (Si) 



