APPENDIX A 



621 



Corolla, petals 5, polypetalous, inferior, deeply notched, and again divided, 

 bearing paired ligules at the sharp angle of the claw of each. 



Androecium, stamens 10, free, hypogynous, of varying length during flower- 

 ing. The 5 outer opposite the sepals, the 5 inner opposite the petals. 



Fig. 470. 

 The Ragged Robin (Lychnis Flos-cuculi, L.) I. whole flower. II. same in section. 

 III. petal with ligule, abaxial view. IV. petal with ligule and petaline (inner) 

 stamen, adaxial view. V. gynoecium. VI. floral diagram. 



Gynoecium, carpels 5, syncarpous, superior ; ovary unilocular, ovules 

 numerous, on free central placenta. Styles and stigmas 5, rising separately 

 from the apex of the ovary. 



Pollination. Nectar is secreted at the base of the stamens, and the flowers 

 are visited by many insects, especially butterflies and moths. The flowers 

 are pvotandrous ; in the first stage the 5 outer stamens shed their pollen at 

 the entrance of the tube ; later the 5 inner stamens do the same ; finally the 

 5 stigmas grow up and fill the entrance to the flower. An insect visiting the 

 flower in either of the first stages will remove pollen on its proboscis, which 

 it may deposit on another flower in the third stage. Intercrossing is thus 

 probable, though self-pollination is possible. 



(14) In the Red Campion {Lychnis diurna, L.), two types of plant are found : 

 some with thinner stems and smaller leaves bear only staminate flowers, others 

 with more robust habit bear pistillate flowers. These should be examined 

 and compared (Fig. 471). In the staminate flowers the Calyx and Corolla are 

 essentially as above described. Also the 10 stamens, but they are of unequal 

 lengths, and they surround a minute green central process, which represents 

 the abortive gynoecium. The pistillate flowers are of like structure ; but here 

 the androecium is represented by ten small conical staminodes, while the 

 gynoecium is fully developed, with five carpels, a large ovary with five styles 

 and stigmas, and numerous ovules on a free central placenta. 



Pollination. Comparing the two species : in both, nectar is secreted at the 

 base of the tube, and protected by hairs, while the weak petals and stamens 

 are supported by the firm gamosepalous calyx. In the Ragged Robin the 

 sexes are separated in time, the flowers being markedly protandrous, which 

 gives a probability of intercrossing as a consequence of repeated insect- visits. 



