114 



DICOTYLEDONS 



crimson corolla, or Clerodendron inforhmatum {Kan. Ittevii; 

 Mai. Peragu), a handsome under-slirub witli decussate, large and 

 cordate leaves. The erect panicles of its white flowers attract 



night-moths not only by 

 their pale colour, but also 

 by their sweet smell which 

 is specially strong by 

 night. If various flowers 

 are compared, it will be 

 seen that some have their 

 four stamens straight and 

 the style bent down, where- 

 as others have the style 

 straight, but the stamens 

 curled. The stamens are 

 straight in flowers that 

 have recently opened (ng. 

 107, i), and curled in such as have already been open for one 

 or two days (flg. 107, 2). Now, a moth that comes for nectar to 

 a newly opened flower cannot but touch the anthers hanging on 

 the long, horizontal stamens, with the lower side of its wings 

 while it hovers in front of the flower thrusting its long tongue into 

 the floral tube. Afterwards, when it goes to a flower which 

 opened the previous night, it must touch tlie style of it and thus 

 bring the pollen of the flrst flower to the style of the second. 

 There is absolutely no possibility of self-pollination. 



As the flower of this plant attracts night-moths to avail itself 

 of their services, so does the fruit attract birds by the black colour 

 of its four drupes and the red colour of the calyx which enlarges 

 and reddens as the fruit rij)ens. The birds eat the fleshy fruit 

 and disperse the seed. 



Fi^:. 107. — Flower of Clerodendron inforlunaUnn. 



1. Position on first evening : Stamens straight, 



style bent back. 2. Position on second evening: 



style straight and stamens curled. 



