WAYFARING NOTES IN RHODESIA 245 



meeting in the middle line, and an upper portion whose extremity- 

 is trumpet-mouthed, the opening being in the shape of a trefoil. 

 This upper portion leans forward over the lower lip. The outlines 

 of the posterior lip of the stigma conform to the recessed portion 

 of the corolla-tube. The edges of both upper and lower lips are 

 covered with minute, pointed papillae. They are swollen, and 

 constitute the stigmatic surface proper. 



Thunbergia lancifolia T. And. Long past upon the open 

 veld, it lingers still (Dec. 22nd) upon the upper slopes of the 

 kopje. It is erect in habit, with large velvety, purple flowers, 

 the corolla-tube being of a bright yellow within. The four stamens 

 are only very slightly didynamous. Standing in pairs upon either 

 side of the style their anthers are ranged two and two beneath 

 the stigma. The two inner stamens, posterior in their origin, are 

 slightly below the level of the two outer. The anthers are horned 

 above and bearded below. The horns project posteriorly, a pair 

 upon each side, and upon them, as upon a crutch, the lateral ear- 

 like portions of the stigma lean. In the external stamens each 

 anther possesses two hood-shaped loculi. Dehiscence is pod-like, 

 occurring along the ventral face; the hairs of the beard, collective 

 in function, being mostly grouped in tufts at the lower ends of 

 the loculi. In addition, the external loculus has at the lower end 

 and upon the outer side a process like a cock's spur. This spur 

 is turned horizontally inwards, and has a sharp needle-like point. 

 It probably sticks into the bodies of insects, who shake the 

 .anthers in their efforts to get free. The hairs of the beard are 

 long and irregularly nodular. 



The anthers of the inner stamens resemble those of the outer, 

 but there is no spur. In the bud, style and stigma occupy a 

 recess in the posterior wall of the corolla ; but in the opened 

 Hower the stigma leans well forward out of the recess. Externally 

 the recess shows as a vertical ridge. The style is bowed forwards 

 and dilated at its summit into a compressed, trumpet-mouthed 

 stigma. The compression forms a small anterior lip, which is 

 folded inwards, and a much larger saddle-shaped, posterior lip. 

 The parts corresponding to the flaps of the saddle form ear-like 

 projections upon either side. These ears rest upon the horns of 

 the anthers, so that style, stigma, and stamens form a structure 

 lightly locked together. Depending from the outer surface of the 

 ears is a wisp of long, jointed hairs, which trails over the anther- 

 horns. The wisps appear to be fixative in function. The part of 

 the posterior lip corresponding to the pommel of the saddle con- 

 forms to the shape of the posterior corolla-wall. Internally the 

 trumpet-mouth is smooth, but the outer surface is studded with 

 short glandular hairs in grouped patches. The edge of the 

 posterior lip and the outer part of the edge of the anterior lip are 

 thickened, and constitute the true stigmatic surface. An entering 

 insect first encounters the stigma, which obstructs the path. On 

 touching it, the whole stamino-stylar fabric is jolted, and this will 

 tend to shake the pollen out upon the beard, which, in turn, 

 transfers it to the insect as it brushes past ; but probal^ly a more 



