THE AMERICAN BOTANIST. 9 



mas also are often broad or feathery to give them the best 

 chance to catch the pollen. When the great pine forests 

 of the Southern States bloom, the pollen is so abundant 

 that it often falls in showers, completel_v covering the sur- 

 face of small pools, etc. 



In the case of the eel-grass ( Valisneria) water assists 

 in pollenation. The pistillate flowers grow on long stems 

 and reach the surface of the water, but the staminate have 

 short stems and are often found several feet under water,^ 

 At maturity, however, the latter break loose from the 

 plant, rise to the surface, shed their pollen and so pollen- 

 ate the pistillate fl*owers. In tropical countries birds 

 sometimes cross-pollenate the flowers, and in our own 

 latitude the humming birds occasionally perform the same 

 office. Insects, however, are the principal carriers for 

 showy flowers. Lured to the iDlossoms by attractive 

 colors, pleasing odors and abundant nectar, they may 

 imagine they are being entertained free, but as thej' sip 

 the honey they become well covered with pollen, and upon 

 a subsequent visit to another flower some of the pollen is 

 sure to be rubbed off against the stigmas while the insect 

 is being covered with fresh pollen for another trip. In in- 

 sect pollenation the sepals and petals play an important 

 part, and in consequence this part of the subject will be 

 dealt with further after we have discussed these additional 

 features. 



THE WALKING FERN. 



BY FRANCES C. HAESELBARTH. 



A/V Y experience with the walking fern, Camptosorus 

 <^ 1- rhizophyllus, ahvays reminds me of the legend of 

 the man who searched far and wide for the coveted four- 

 leaf clover, and then returned to find it growing at his 

 own door. After a trip to the Berkshire Hills, made for 

 the express purpose of seeing the plant in its native 

 haunts, I returned to find it growing within thirty miles 

 of New York City— nay, even within the limits of my own 

 town. 



