Pollination and Fertilization 



127 



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the disc flowers. They have a Uttle brush just at the tip. They 

 can curl back far enough to help themselves from neighbouring 

 flowers, and even from the pollen that has adhered to their own 

 stigmas if no insect pays them a visit. 



Take any of the Indigoferas. They are usually creeping 

 plants with blue or purplish 

 flowers, belonging to the pea 

 family. 



Botanists state in a matter- 

 of-fact way that the keel, or two 

 boat-shaped petals in front, is 

 provided with a spur or promi- 

 nence at each side near the base. 

 The bees have never had their 

 attention called to this, and are 

 unaware that these prominences 

 are hidden springs, and that 

 this keel contains concealed 

 and loaded weapons. The un- 

 suspecting bee poises on the 

 two side petals invitingly offer- 

 ing a resting-place, when, presto ! 

 the springs are set off, the side 

 petals spread apart; the keel 

 drops, releasing the stamens 

 charged with powder, and up 

 they fly. The range is just 



right, and the bee is well dusted for the next flower which has 

 its pistil ready to receive it. 



Every one who lives in the Eastern Province knows what is 

 meant by " lighting matches." The " matches " of LorantJms 

 oleafolms are borne in umbels of three to five flowers, bright 

 red at base, and orange in the upper portion with green tips. 

 The plant, which is parasitic on Acacia trees, pays for its 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 point is 

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



I. II. 



Fig. 141. — The disc flowers of Senecio 

 have stigmas that can coil back and 

 help themselves to pollen. The ray 

 flowers (I.) have no stamens. (From 

 Thome and Bennett's " Structural 

 and Physiological Botany.") 



