METHODS OF POLLINATION, 



17 



Tlie stamens and stigmas not being together, the hitter 

 can only be pollinated by the wind blowing the pollen 

 on to them. In a high wind the pollen may often be 

 seen forming a perfect cloud of a yellow colour dis- 

 persing on the breeze. Indeed, occasions have occurred 

 when ignorant people thought it must be sulphur from 

 some volcano, but it was only pollen from some 

 neighbouring pine trees ! 



Insect-pollination. — Flowers which 

 are regularly visited by insects possess 

 various means of attracting them, such 

 as bright colours or by being white. 

 It is sometimes the scale-like Brads, as 

 they are called, outside flowers, as of 

 " Everlastings," which are coloured. 

 Sometimes the calyx is white or coloured, 

 as of Clem'atis and Anem'one. Generally 

 it is the corolla which invites them. 



Besides colour, there is often a sweet 

 scent, as in roses, etc. Some flowers, 

 such as of the Stapelias of the Karroo, smell like 

 putrid meat, so that flies come and lay their eggs 

 upon the corollas by mistake ! They never, however, 

 turn to grubs. Then, again, many flowers secrete 

 honey. This is done by what are called Glands, i.e. 

 small knob-like growths on the floral receptacle as in 

 Pluiiiha'yo (Fig. 7), or else by a disc which is a thick 

 ring all round the flower, as in Bhus (Fig. 8). These 



c 



Fig. I. — Pluinba'go. 

 Stamens, honey- 

 glands, and pistil. 



