122 INTRODUCTION 
agrees with the former species in the colour, form, and arrangement of its flowers, 
only differing in that these are smaller. There is still, however, a necessity for 
direct observation to confirm this supposition, since the agents which pollinate 
Listera cordata are as yet unknown. 
The two species just named belong to the class of 
flowers possessing exposed nectar, in connection with 
which they have therefore already been mentioned. 
The very inconspicuous flowers of Chamaeorchis 
alpina (Fig. 34) have also an incomprehensible attraction 
for certain insects, for Hermann Miiller (‘Alpenblumen,’ 
p- 74) found that in more than two-thirds of over fifty 
specimens he examined with a lens the anthers were 
empty and the stigmas pollinated. ‘The small odourless 
flowers are hidden under the low grass tufts among 
which they grow, and which they somewhat resemble 
in colour, and are actually so well concealed that to 
avoid overlooking any of them, it is necessary to lie 
FiG. 33. Listera ovata, L., an F : z 
aeheenanitlower. prone on the turf in the place where they grow, inspecting 
the sparsely covered surface with the greatest minuteness.’ 
From the flat, open position of the nectar, it follows that ‘ only tiny flies, beetles, or 
hymenoptera can be considered as agents of cross-pollination, though these have not 
so far been observed. Of these 
the most likely visitors are cer-- 
tainly the Ichneumons, judging 
from their habits and the analogy 
with Listera, and therefore Cha- 
maeorchis alpina is probably to 
be regarded as an Ichneumon 
Flower.’ (Herm. Miiller, Kosmos, 
iii, 1878, p. 480.) Miiller subse- 
quently placed this flower in 
a special class, that of the Small 
Insect Flowers (Sm) (‘Alpen- 
blumen,’ p. 21). 
Numerous transitional forms 
lead from Hymenopterid Flowers 
to Lepidopterid Flowers. Such 
intermediate types, which are 
crossed both by bees (or humble- 
bees) and Lepidoptera and which 
FiG. 34. Chamacorchis alpina, Rich. (Ichneumon Flower?) may therefore be symbolized by 
B. A young flower after removal of the perianth except the P 
labellum (x 7). A. Middle of the same seen from the front (x 35). HbL or HhL, are very interesting 
because they sometimes possess 
two special openings, into which the proboscides of Lepidoptera and bees (or 
humble-bees) can respectively be inserted. Rhinanthus Alectorolophus (Herm. 
Miller, ‘Alpenblumen,’ p. 290 ; Kosmos, loc. cit., p. 419), for instance, has a wider 
