MEADOW cl^\^^;s Hir.i, 21 



The Mculow ("r.mc's Hill is (ilU'ii 3 or 4 h. hiL;h. The IIowcts 

 may he touiul from juiu' tc Sc|)tcnilHT. ']"lic |)l,iin is perennial, in- 

 creasing' by ilixision <>t ihe root. 



This well-known wild llovver exhibits atlniirahly numerous adapla- 

 lions to cross-pollination. I>ark lines on the petals conver^inL;- towards 

 the centre act as lione\ guides, and indicate where the honey-.ylands lie 

 at the base of the outer stamens. The hairs on the claws of the petals 

 protect the honey from the 

 rain. The (lowers are lari^c 

 and conspicuous and wide 

 open, and short-li[)pe(l in 

 sects can gain access to the 

 honey. 



The anthers ripen in 

 advance of the stigma, 

 which is a means of pre- 

 \enting self- pollination. 

 When the anthers open, 

 and in this stage hang over 

 the stigma, the latter is in 

 capable of being pollinatetl, 

 all the stamens ripening, 

 opening, ami shri\elling 

 before the stigma i.s recep- 

 tive. Hence pollen must 

 be borne by in.sects from 

 other Howers before the 

 plant can be pollinated at 

 all, and as good seed is 

 usually set this must usually 

 be the case. 



As the anthers wither the whorls of stamens bend outwards. When 

 the anthers open the stigmas cannot be [)ollinated, but only when the 

 anthers are farthest away from them. The visitors are Hymenoptera 

 (Apida;, ^■l/>/s j/n-Z/i/na, Osinuj riifa, Cliclosloma sic lis, ylmirciia, 

 Halic/iis, I^rosopis): l)i])tera (.Syrphida;, Mclitlnrptiis). 



The Meadow- Crane's Mill disperses its seeds by its own mechanism. 

 The fruit is many-seeded, splitting into single parts that break off 

 separately. When the seeds are ripe the carpels split, and the seeds 

 are scattered by an explosive movement. 



In the case of this species the carpels, which are hairy, not netted. 



.Mkadow C'R.\Nr;.s Hill \Gt 



