620 



BOTANY OF THE LIVING PLANT 



two-lobed stigma. The ovules are numerous, and the placentation parietal. 

 A honey-gland is present here also between the flower and the main axis 

 (Fig. 469, A,d). 



Fig. 467. 



Flowers of Willow {Salix alba), a, male ; b, female ; in each case the subtending 

 bract is also shown. (After Figuier.) 



Pollination. The flowers of both catkins are visited freely by insects, both 

 bees and moths, for honey or for pollen. Self-pollination is obviously im- 

 possible, for the plants are dioecious ; but crossing follows as a natural 

 consequence of the conveyance of the sticky pollen to the protogynous female 

 catkins by insect-visitors. 



<0>~d> 



gffluv /7/ 



Fig. 468. 



Floral diagrams of male flowers of Willow. 

 A=S. caprea. B = S. purpurea. C = S. pen- 

 tandra. (After Eichler.) 



Fig. 469. 



Floral diagrams of female flowers of Salix. 

 A =S. caprea. B=S. alba. (After Eichler.) 



The fruit is a tough capsule, which splits longitudinally, exposing the seeds, 

 each with a tuft of silky hairs attached to its base, by which it is transferred 

 by the wind. 



ORDER : CURVEMBRYEAE. 



Family : Caryophyllaceae. Examples : Ragged Robin, Red 



Campion. 



(13) The Ragged Robin (Lychnis Flos-cuculi, L.) is a herb of damp grassy 

 ground, with perennial root-stock from which arise upright stems with simple 

 leaves in alternate pairs. The inflorescence is a definite, regular dichasial 

 cyme : that is, the main axis ends in the first flower ; branches arising in the 

 axils of the last leaves again terminate each in a flower, and so on (compare 

 Fig. 179 B, p. 258). The flower is of a radial type, with peculiar tattered pink 

 petals, which gives the name (Fig. 470). Its constitution is as follows : 



Calyx, sepals 5, gamosepalous, inferior, dilated below, and serving as a 

 mechanical support to the weaker parts within. 



