THALAMIFLOR/: 69 
honey. The outer stamens at first, then the inner 
are close to the centre and turn their surfaces 
upwards, whilst the other five are bent down. ‘The 
stigmas in the first stage are bent inwards; in the 
second they are erect, with their papillar surfaces 
turned towards each other. In the third phase they 
become expanded and the anthers are then withered. 
By the spreading of the stigmas, which may touch the 
inner stamens, the flower is self-pollinated. But it is 
visited by a variety of insects, flies, bees, beetles and 
butterflies. 
When the capsule with its six valves is ripe the 
latter split open and the seeds are dispersed at no 
great distance from the plants that produced them. 
There are some interesting vernacular names for 
this wayside favourite, such as Adder’s Spit, Allbone, 
Easter Bell, Billy White’s Buttons, Bird’s Eye, 
Brandy Snaps, Breakbones, Dead Men’s Bones, 
Headache, Milkcans, Moonflower, Pick-pocket, 
Pyxie, Shirt Buttons, Snapwort, Thunder-flower. 
The reason for the name Thunder-flower is said to 
be because the unripe capsule contains air, and when 
pressed goes off with a bang. Naturally this is a 
game children delight to play. 
Fairies held it in special favour, so they say, and 
for fear of being ‘‘ pixy-led”’ the poor people were 
afraid to pluck it. 
In the daytime and in sunlight the Yellow Under- 
wing may be seen hovering over the flowers. 
