310 The Romance of Wild Flowers 
developed, whilst the third is metamorphosed into 
a shield-like purple-spotted lobe attached to the 
extremity of the column and nearly closing the 
orifice of the pale-yellow lip. The perfect anthers 
are situated one on each side of this aborted stamen, 
and the stigma hes below it. These two organs 
occupy the centre of the entrance to the lip, the open- 
ing left being horseshoe-shaped. On the floor of the 
lip there is a broad band of long hairs which secrete 
honey. Various species of Andrena, a large genus 
of small pollen-collecting bees, attracted by the colour 
and perfume of the flower, enter the lip, and after 
licking and biting the hairs, 
attempt to leave; but the 
jineurved edges of the en- 
trance present an obstacle 
rarely surmounted, and the 
only means of ready exit 
Section of Lady’s Slipper is at the basal end of the 
lip, where there is space 
beneath the anther on each side. The long hairs on 
the floor enable the small bees to reach these doors, 
but in getting to them the bee must push its back 
against the stigma, and in passing through the exit 
must press one shoulder against the anther, now 
covered with pollen invested in a viscid fluid, by 
means of which some of the grains will infallibly 
attach to the bee’s thorax. On seeking escape from 
another flower this will be deposited on the stigma, 
and a new supply obtained as the bee leaves by the 
basal exit, 
