Mint and Thyme 285 
from the anthers as it can be, and there is little danger 
of self-fertilisation. When the pollen has all departed 
(c), stamens and pistil change places: the stamens 
lean over the back wall and curve downwards, so that 
there shall be no chance even of the last remaining 
pollen-grain being transferred to the stigmas, which 
have now leaned forward over the corolla-tube. The 
ereenish-white colour of the flower, coupled with the 
fact that it is a favourite with bees, would appear to 
oppose the view previously expressed in these pages 
that inconspicuous flowers are as a rule self- or wind- 
fertilised, but in truth the association of the flowers 
in this case gives the necessary amount of advertise- 
ment, the racemes being quite conspicuous in contrast 
with the dark foliage and the general surroundings. 
The abundance of honey also contributes largely to 
their popularity. 
Our last example of this family is the familiar 
Bugle (Ajuga reptans), whose spikes of bright-blue 
flowers are a conspicuous item in the flora of copse 
and pasture in spring and early summer. ‘The plant 
is of lowly growth, which takes possession of the 
ground by sending out runners from the rootstock. 
The flower-spike is rendered more striking by the 
leafy bracts between the upper flowers being usually 
of a purple hue. The corolla has no more upper 
lip than the Wood Sage, so that the protruding 
stamens have to be protected by the bract above. 
The lower lip is very broad and conspicuous. Anthers 
and stigmas appear to mature simultaneously, but 
self-fertilisation is prevented at first by the stigma 
hiding behind the shorter pair of stamens which 
protect it from contact with bee-visitors; whilst the 
