338 The Romance of Wild Flowers 
petals, from eight to twelve stamens with the connect- 
ive extended in aslender point far beyond the anthers, 
and a large, almost globose dark- 
purple ovary with four styles of 
the same colour. The ovary and 
styles though perfectly dry shine 
as though wet, and the flower 
exhales a disagreeable odour. There 
is no honey, but the vile odour 
and the moist-carrion appearance 
of the ovary attracts the Dung-fly 
(Scatophaga merdaria) and other 
Sheek “ees two-winged flies, which alight on 
the ovary and lick it, so well are 
they deceived by appearances. Failing to get 
satisfaction there, they turn to the stamens and 
climb up the stiff filaments, dusting their under-sides 
with pollen as they pass the anthers. The object of 
the extended connective is to enable the flies to crawl 
right over the anthers, so that on visiting other 
flowers they may be well primed with pollen. To 
assist in cross-fertilisation, the stigmas are already 
mature when the flower opens, but the anthers do 
not shed their pollen until several days later. 
ee 
