APPENDIX A 



631 



Pollination. The flowers arc protandrous, the inner series of stamens 

 ripening first ; then the outer. Nectar is secreted at the upper surface of the 



ovary. The flowers are visited by flies 

 and small bees, and repeated visits will 

 give a high probability of cross-pollination. 

 But the flower is not highly specialised, 

 and self-pollination is possible. 



The London Pride (Saxifraga umbrosa, 

 L.) will serve as an alternative example, 

 though the flowers are smaller and more 

 numerous, and the carpels are not so 

 deeply sunk. It is pollinated by small 

 flies. 



(25) The Red-Flowering Currant (Ribes 

 sanguineum, Pursh) is native in North 

 America, and is commonly grown in 

 gardens. It serves as an example of the 

 Ribesiaceae, which are usually grouped with the Saxifragaceae, notwithstand- 

 ing their inferior ovary, and five stamens. The Gooseberry or Currant of 

 gardens would serve equally well. 



Fig. 480. 



Median section of the flower of Saxifrage, 

 showing the carpels half sunk in the recep 

 tacle, and coherent for the greater part of 

 their length. (After Figuier.) 



Fig. 481. 

 Inflorescence of Currant : a raceme. 



(After Figuier.) 



Fig. 482. 



Berries of the Currant. 

 (After Figuier.) 



The Inflorescence is a pendulous raceme (Fig. 481), arising in the axil of a 

 foliage leaf of the previous season. The flowers are hermaphrodite and 

 actinomorphic, composed as follows : 



Calyx, sepals 5, polysepalous, superior, crimson, ; odd sepal posterior. 



Corolla, petals 5, polypetalous, alternating with sepals, paler coloured. 



Androecium, stamens 5, alternating with petals ; seated on rim of recep- 

 tacular tube. 



