DROPWORT 29 



This beautiful phuit is usually 2 ft. in height. It is in llower in 

 June, July, and onwards u[) lo October. It is perennial and is repro- 

 duced by division. 



No honey is secreted, liut only ])()llen. The insects alii^ht on the 

 stigma and cross-pollinate the plant. The petals are bent backwards and 

 downwards during the expansion of the llower, and are attached by very 

 narrow stalks so that thev hanL>' down under their own weioht and 



5fam 



IJuol'WOKT (Spiioca liiipfudxila, L.) 



11 Irving 



a bee's weight when \-isiteel. Before they open, the stamens are beiU 

 outwards, and 9-12 broad styles spread out in the centre into a hori- 

 zontal j)]anc forming a disk around which the stigmas stand directed 

 upwards and outwards. As the inner stamens remain directed upwards 

 till they open, this causes the plant to be self-pollinated. It is visited 

 by Ilalictiis zoiiic/us, H. sexiiotatits, Erislalis arlmsfoniiu, /:". nenionmi, 

 Helophilns ftorcits, Syritta pipieiis, 'J^richnis fascial ns. 



The seeds arc few and contained in a follicle, and may be 

 dispersed around the parent plant by the; wind or by browsing 

 animals. 



Dropwort is a lime-loving plant, preferring a lime soil, and may 



