Dl'A'H/S BIT SCAHKUTS 



47 



developing towards the centre. A lleshy ring above tlie ovary at the 

 base of the style secretes honey, which collects in the narrow mouth of 

 the tube 3 4 mm. long. Alunc the smooth pari this is lined with 

 hairs to e.xclude rain. I'he tube witlens above Id 2 mm., and tour (or 

 five) rounded lobes of the corolla (the external being largest) are easily 

 thrust open, and the honey can be reached by short lipped insects. 

 The florets are conspicuous, and in sunny weaUur man) in.sects settle 

 upon them. The anthers 

 ripen first, and anthers and 

 stigmas ripen separateh', 

 so it is cross-pollinateil. 

 The stamens are bcnl 

 inwards in bud, and 

 straighten one by one 

 when the flower opens, 

 then when the style 

 scarcely projects beyond 

 the corolla the anthers 

 open in succession. When 

 the stamens are quite 

 withered, and the anthers 

 if the flower has been 

 visited are shaken off, the 

 style lengthens and the 

 stigma is clammy, and it 

 can only be pollinated il 

 an anther is still dusted 

 with pollen and acciden- 

 tally touches the stigma. 



The visitors are Hy- 

 menoptera {Apis, Bovibus. Aiidrcua, Ilaliclm). 1 )iplera {/:.voprosopci, 

 llc/ophilus, Eristalis, Syrphtis, Rliingia, Eiiipis, Liicilia, Mused), 

 Lepidoptera (Small White {Picris rapcr), Meadow Brown {Epin- 

 ephele {Satyi'us) jaiiira), Small Copper {Chrysophaiius {/'o/yoiiiiNatiis) 

 phla-as), Silver Y Moth {P/iisia o-aiiiuia), Bo/ys pitrpui-alis), Coleoptera 

 ( Crytociphalus sericeiis). 



The fruits are surrounded by the four caly.x-lobes, which tlo not 

 fall, and being light these aid the wind in dispersing the fruit. 



Devil's Bit Scabious is a clay-loving plant, growing in clay soil 

 or sandy loam on a variety of rock soils. 



A fungus {^Ustilago Scabioscc) attacks the anthers and ft)rms 



IIkvii.'s Bit Scabiois (Snih/osn siicfisa, L.) 



