SCAR I. !■ I IMMl'I'KM 



143 



base, and the edoes arc notched and hair\. The corolla is wheel- 

 shaped. The ca|)sule. a pyxis, is shining', 5-ncrvcd, upeninL^ trans- 

 versely, and containing- nian\ ])ro\vn, angular seed.s. 



Scarlet Pimpernel is usnalK' aliout h in. in height. The flowers 

 bloom between June and .Septendier. li is an annual, propaijjated 

 by sced.s. 



1 he flower, which contains no honev. is homouianious (the stamens 

 and pistil maturing siiiuiltaneously), so that the llower is usiialK' sell- 



^^f^*!^ 



SCARLKT I'IMI'ERNKI. (Aiingalh's arvcusis, L. ) 



pollinated, as it is only expanded from 9 a.m. till 3 p.m., and few insects 

 visit it. If insects visit it, it is both self- and cro.ss- pollinated. The 

 petals iMiite in a fleshy rinfj at the base and then spread out verticallv 

 10-12 mm. The stamens are projected above the style, which is 

 between them, and is bent down, and an insect settling' on the lower 

 parts towards the anthers, first touches the stigma, the antliers being- 

 covered with pollen. The stignia may also be self-pollinated. When 

 the flower closes the stigma is drawn back and touches the 3 inferior 

 stamens, which cause it to be .self- pollinated, unless insects have 

 visited the llower beforehand, and have removed its pollen, and 

 transferred it, or fresh pollen, to the stigma. The petals soon drop, 

 and as they fall touch the stign-ia with pollen. 



The Scarlet Pimpernel is \isited by a I lymenopterous in.sect, 

 Halictus Diorio. 



