124 



ments, not only detach the anther cap. but frequently manage to bring 

 themselves to the ground imprisoned in a withering corolla. Other 

 smaller bees, in search of honey, enter the spur Avithout touching the 

 anthers. 



Chn/tonia yin/iiiica L. The movements of the stamens and stigmas of 

 this phint are curious and somewhat piizzling. When the petals first open 

 the pistd is longer than the proterandrous stamens, but of the same 

 length after the branches of the stigma are recurved. In some flowers the 

 stamens remain clustered around the style and closed stigma for a time 

 after the petals have opened, and while in this position, the under part 

 of an insect-visitor readily becomes dusted with pollen. Later the sta- 

 mens are bent backward until the anthers rest on the face of the hori- 

 zontal pistils. When this outward movement of the stamens takes place 

 the lobes of the stigma are also bent outward and in position for cross- 

 fertilization. Quite often it happens that it can scarcely be said that the 

 stamens are proterandrous, all the movements before described occurring 

 at the time the anthers become dehiscent. When this takes place the 

 insect-visitor has little chance of collecting pollen, but it leaves the stigma 

 in an ideal position for cross-fertilization. FloAvers can be found in all 

 of tiiese stages at the same time; and the honey-bee in making its rounds 

 soon becomes dusted Avith pollen, witluiut having to depend on the re- 

 curved stamens for a supply. 



T^nlike many flowers tnat are in part or wholly dependent on insicts 

 for fci tilizaiiiin, llie spring beauty lasts but one day. It comes into bloom 

 early in the seasmi and its day is past before insects become numerous, 

 hence, as miglit lie expected, there is a provision Avhich assures self- 

 pollenatidii. 'Jhc petals that open in the morning begin to close in the 

 afternoon, ;uid liy night are gathered into an imbricated roll. If tlie day 

 has been cold and tlie lubes of the stigma have not become fully recurved, 

 so as to bring tlieir pa;)illie on a level Avith the anthers, the process of 

 recurvation is completed before they are caught by tlie closing petals. 

 Examination shoAvs that after closing the anthers with pollen still adher- 

 ing are in close contact Avith the stigma. Pollen Avas found at niglit on 

 the papilla^ of the old flowers that Avas not there lief ore insects ceased to 

 tly that afternoon. No insect other than the honey-bee Avas seen about 

 them. and. as its visits wei'e rather rare, the numerous and Avell tilled 

 <-apsuh's must have b( (>n the result of self-pollenation. 



