102 EKYTHEA. 



back from the stigmas as they dehisce, I have never 

 been able to detect a clear case of pollen falling naturally on 

 the stigmas. In the field the stigmas seem past maturity 

 soou after dehiscence begins, but in the house they remain 

 fresh until the petals fall. In the first stages of the flower, 

 then, only cross-pollination is possible, then for a variable 

 period close-pollination may result if the visiting insect does 

 not alight on the centre of the flower. In the early morning 

 there are usually many little flies on the flowers, and they are 

 quite as likely to alight on the petals as on the stigmas. Later 

 in the forenoon I usually found small bees, Melissodes and 

 Megachiles, and sometimes small butterflies getting nectar 

 from the flowers. The bees and butterflies invariably 

 alighted on the centre and made the entire circuit of the 

 nectaries. In doing this they must of course double them- 

 selves over the ring of stamens and sweep quite around 

 it, becoming thoroughly dusted with pollen. In the after- 

 noou insect visits were usually precluded by high winds, 

 though I occasionally found beetles on the flowers. The 

 plants fruit abundantly. 



Ranunculus Cymbalaria, Pursh, has small inconspicuous 

 flowers that secrete little nectar. The scales are small. The 

 stigmas seem mature throughout the flower's existence. De- 

 hiscence begins with the outer stamens, but they take an 

 ascending position, and the anther cells open so widely that 

 tlie anthers become little pollen-covered balls. The inner 

 anthers during dehiscence are so nearly erect that any slight 

 disturbance must send them against the column of stigmas. 

 The flowers are sometimes frequented by thrips which must 

 effect close- more frequently than cross-pollination. I have 

 seen large areas fairly carpeted with these plants, but have 

 seen no guests other than thrips. 



Aquilegia truncata, F. & M., is common along streams 

 throughout the mountains and is still in full flower in July, 

 but I had opportunity to observe only scattered plants. 

 The showy scarlet flowers have spurred petals from nine 

 lines to an inch long, but not wide enough to admit the head 



