206 



M. MIYOSHI. 



]'ube>Gent. 5-25 cm. hiii'h. Flowers distant ; ])edicel8 bracteate, 

 minutely piil;escent, 1-2.5 cm. long- ; bracts minute, scaly, acute. 

 Calyx (Fil!-. H) 5-lobed, cainpanniate, persistent, 0.7 cm. Ioii<>- ; 

 lobes ovate, acute, at length spreading. Corolla (Fig. 2) bilabiate, 

 light blue or often deeper-coloured, sometimes snowy white. 

 Upper lip erect, or curved upward, bifid at the apex. Lower 

 lip deflexed, o-lobed, 1-1.5 cm. l)road and long; the two lateral 

 lobes broader than the mi<ldle ; its palate convex, beset with 

 delicate hairs, whitish or yellowish, with yellowish brown or deep 

 brown S|)ots. Stamens (Fig. 2) 4, didynamons, inserted in the 

 tube of the corolla, distinct at hrst, eacli pair connivent and adher- 

 ing by the anthers at maturity ; anthers wliitish, 2-celled. PolJen- 

 grains (Fig. 6) whitish yellow, elliptical, with 3 longitudinal 

 grooves. Style (Fig. 3) longer than the stamens, ascending under 

 the upper lip of the corolla. Stigma (Fig. 3) 2-lobed, lobes 

 semicircular, 1 mm. long. Ovary superior, globose, 2-celled, 

 Capsule compressed, loddicidal. Seeds numerous, minute, brown. 

 The plant is common everywhere, especially on sunny lawns, 

 and bears flowers from early spring to mid-summer. When I hap- 

 pened to notice* the irritable property of the stigma and began my 

 observations early in April, I visited daily certain spots in the Uni- 

 versity grounds where I found the plant in profusion, some growing 

 in positions \ery convenient for examination. 



To observe the phenomenon, take the flower of this plant, and 

 touch the lower lobe of the stigma with the point of a needle or the 

 like ; we shall then see the affected lobe move steadily upwards with 

 uniform speed until it comes in close contact with the upper lobe (IM. 

 XXIX, Figs. 7, 8, 9). We may cause the same action with the least 



* A few weeks after, I was iuformed by Mr. T. Yoshiuaga of Tosa, of the same fact whieli 

 be had himself observed. 



