158 TYPES OF BRITISH PLANTS 
of this eccentric member is the Jabellum, or lip. Within 
the corolla is set a square column, into which stamens 
and pistil have combined. As a rule, in orchids two out 
of the three stamens never get so far as to produce pollen, 
and this is the case in our Helleborine, where two trian- 
cular points are just a reminder of an earlier stage. The 
third pollen-bearing stamen is close to one of the three 
stigmatic surfaces, which has also given up its ordinary 
duties of receiving pollen and sending down the tubes 
to the embryo seeds. This third stigma is modified into 
all kinds of shapes, but is generally beak-like, and is 
hence called the rostellum. The top of this rostellum 
becomes sticky, and touches the pollen masses of the 
anther, which promptly cling to it. One would think at 
first that the pollen-tubes might run straight down to 
their own seeds, but the orchid strongly objects to self- 
fertilisation, and so the rostellum does not stimulate any ~ 
tubes, but simply holds on to the pollen, ready for a 
visitor. 
A wasp, let us imagine, comes sauntering down the 
wood and scents the honey. He promptly settles on 
the labellum and begins to lick up the honey, which lies 
in the cup. As he raises his head, he knocks against the 
sticky top of the rostellum, to which the pollen masses 
are clinging on the other side. The wasp gives his head 
an unamiable wrench, and the sticky top, which comes 
easily away from its place, remains attached to his head, 
with the pollen masses sticking up in the air like a pair 
of horns. Off goes the wasp with his new head-dress, 
but it does not keep erect for long. After a little the 
weight of the pollen masses tilts them forward, and they 
swing down on to the front of the wasp’s face, and some- 
times over his eye, giving him a most rakish appearance. 
