Gentian and Bogbean aA5 
-the bee that has succeeded in getting the honey it 
will be cross-fertilised, for the bee will have now to 
crawl over the expanded stigma-lobes upon which 
some of the pollen from its under-side will be 
detached. 
We have two other native species, both very rare, 
being confined to the mountainous districts of our 
land. One of these is the Spring Gentian (G. verna), 
with bright-blue salver-shaped solitary flowers, an 
inch across, yet the stem of the plant is only an inch 
or two high. The throat of the corolla is partially 
closed by five split scales which project from between 
the lobes. Miiller says itis adapted for cross-fertilisa- 
tion by butterflies and moths; the most important 
visitor being, apparently, the Humming-bird Hawk- 
moth (Macroglossa stellatarum). The remaining 
species is the Small Alpine Gentian (Gentiananivalis), 
with very small funnel-shaped flowers, far less con- 
spicuous than the Spring Gentian,and consequently less 
visited by insects; but in case these should entirely 
overlook it or otherwise fail to put in an appearance, 
it has reserved the right, and power, to fertilise itself. 
In our country all the Gentians have the petals 
jomed together by their edges to form a tubular 
corolla, and are more or less blue; but on the Alps 
there is a well-known Yellow Gentian (G. lutea), 
which produces its flowers in tiers one above the 
other, and these flowers consist of five petals free 
almost to the base. Its honey is freely accessible to 
short-lipped insects, and they appear to avail them- 
selves fully of the opportunity. Anthers and stigmas 
mature simultaneously, and are on the same level, so 
that if no cross-fertilisation takes place, as happens 
