Classification of Plants 



183 



stamens. The upper three stamens furnish Httle or no pollen, 

 but the anthers contain honey. The lower middle stamen 

 bends up opposite the centre of the flower. Bees collect 

 pollen from this stamen for their bread, are dusted with pollen 

 from the side stamens, which they carry to other flowers, and 

 then climb up and pierce the upper anthers for honey. 



In the morning the bright little flowers open ; in the after- 

 noon, or as soon as the bees have visited them (female bees 



Fig. 187. — Sheathing leaves and adventitious 

 roots of Commelyna. 



Fig. 188.— Flowering shoot of Com- 

 melyna, showing two-stalked petals 

 and different kinds of stamens. 



are said to be their chief benefactors), the flowers quickly roll 

 up and wither into a moist shapeless mass. 



CYdi,no\,\s {Tradescantia) also blossoms for a day and then 

 perishes or " dissolves in tears," whence it is known as " Job's 

 Tears." The hairy filaments serve as a foothold for bees. The 

 anthers are similar. 



Aneilima has differently formed anthers, as in Commelyna. 



Dithyrocarpus has six similar stamens, beardless with 

 three of the filaments shorter. 



The species are chiefly Eastern, though the first two are 

 found throughout the Colony. 



