NUDIFLOR^ 359 



When the anthers are ripe the stigmas are usually 

 not receptive, so that self-pollination is prevented by 

 the dichogamous nature of the flowers. If the pollen 

 shed is not all carried off by the flies in their effort 

 to escape it falls to the bottom of the spathe and a 

 fresh set of flies may then become dusted with it. 



Father Gerard, S.J., has stated that the nectar 

 secreted by the ovaries has the effect of stupefying 

 the flies, and that they are killed and digested by the 

 plant, which is thus insectivorous if this be the case. 

 Father Gerard considers this to be so from the 

 occurrence of dried flies on the wall of the spathe. 

 Another observer has noticed a similar sequence of 

 events in an allied species. Moreover he thinks that 

 self-pollination may occur since the dichogamy may 

 not be complete. 



Since the fruit is a juicy berry and brilliantly 

 coloured, scarlet when ripe, even though it grows in 

 woods and shaded places close to the ground, it offers 

 an attraction to birds, in spite of its poisonous 

 characters at least to man. Birds may thus serve 

 very largely to disperse the fruits to a distance, eat- 

 ing the soft part and rejecting the seeds. 



So many common names have been applied to this 

 plant that only a selection of those in use now or in 

 the past can be given, as Aaron, Adam-and-Eve, 

 Adder's Tongue, Arrowroot, Bobbins, Calf's-foot, 

 Cuckoo-flower, Cuckoo-spit, Dead Man's Fingers, 

 Devil's Men-and-Women, Dragons, Friar's Cowl, 

 Jack-in-the-box, Kings -and -Queens, Ladies and 



