Mint and Thyme 277 
whorls. The lips are greatly developed, and with 
special reference to the visits of humble-bees. The 
lower lip forms a convenient alighting- 
platform, and the helmet - shaped 47 
upper one arches over it and accom- sok M 
modates the stamens and pistil in ; 
turn. Only two of the stamens are 
developed, the others being discover- 
able as mere points near the base of 
the perfect ones, which need to be 
described more particularly. Hitherto we have spoken 
of stamens as consisting of anther-lobes and a fila: 
ment; but the portion connecting the anther-lobes 
together and with the filament is known as the con- 
nective. In Meadow Sage the filament is very short, 
and the connective so greatly developed that the two 
anther-lobes stand nearly an inch apart, the upper 
one occupying the tip of the upper lip, and the 
lower one (which contains little or no pollen) blocks 
the entrance to the corolla-tube and the way to the 
honey. This connective is hinged near its lower end 
to the filament, and is so beautifully balanced that 
when a bee pushes its head against the lower anther- 
lobes in order to reach the honey, they yield 
to the pressure, and in consequence the upper 
lobes descend upon the bee’s back, and leave 
a patch of pollen there. On the with- 
drawal of the bee, the lobes resume their 
former positions, in readiness for further 
a anpeed visitors. : : ane: 
At this time the style, which is immature, 
and also lies in the vault of the upper lip, stands almost 
straight out from the tip of the lip; but when the 
Meadow Sage 
