320 



ORCHIDACE^. 



[chap. 



its anther, much similarity to that of the beautiful Indian 

 Platanthera referred to above. 



In the common Spotted Orchis of EngHsh meadows the 

 anther is two-celled, the cells being parallel, 

 and each containing a separate pollinium, with 

 caudicle and disk, as in Platanthera. Both of 

 the disks rest in a small, round, knob-Hke 

 projection (the rostelluni) at the base of the 

 column and immediately over the viscid stigma 

 and spur of the labellum. 



Take the very fine stem of a grass or a 

 finely-pointed pencil, and thrust it gently into 

 ^ the spur of a newly-expanded flower, which 

 Fig. 205. Poll, has not lost its pollen, just as an insect would 



mum or Orchis . . -^ . , . , r 



msert its proboscis when in search of nectar. 

 It will be found that the pencil does not fail to push 

 against the projecting rostellum, so that the pouch-like 

 membrane of the latter is pressed down and the pencil 



Fig. 206. Flower of Spotted 

 Orchis. 



Fig. 207. Column of Spotted Orchis 

 a ,-inther ; r rostellum ; st stigma. 



