1 62 Plants and their Ways in South Africa 



support by brilliantly illuminating the tree at Christmas time 

 with its flowers. When ready for " lighting," the tips which hold 

 the ends of the stamens become black. When this sensitive 



Fig. i6o. — Loranthiis olecefoHus, Ch, and Sch. The sensitive tips of the 

 corolla fly back and scatter the pollen as the stamens are released. 



point is struck by birds, back fly the petals, and the pollen is 

 thrown some distance as the stamens are freed from confine- 

 ment. In Natal another species (Z. Natalitius, Meisn.), which 

 the children know as " lighted candles," has waxy white flowers^ 



