22 The South Au stralian Naturalist. 



or peduncle, and are brigrht-gTeenisli in colour, quite as long as 

 the leaves. The corolla is somewhat pitcher shaped, being nar- 

 roAv at the neck, Avider in the middle, and narrowing at the base. 

 The five lobes are turned outwards, and have reflexed hairs at 

 their points. This characteristic (having hairs at the tips) has 

 given them the name of Acrotriche (Clreek, acros, a point; 

 trichos, a hair). Some botanists have given this species, with 

 others, the generic name of Acrotriche. Mr. J. H. Maiden, 

 Government Botanist of New South Wales, one of Australia's 

 leading botanists at the present day, takes this view. There are 

 about twelve fine stiff-looking hairs turned inwards, and they 

 hold the pollen out so that it may be disposed of to visiting 

 insects. It appears to me that the pollen is caught in the hairs 

 very early — some time before the flower opens, when they are 

 in contact with the anthers, which are higher than the neck of 

 the corolla on account of being produced on a short filament. 

 Then when the corolla lobes oi)en out, exhibiting the attached 

 pollen, the anthers, having got rid of their golden freight, thrust 

 their heads out through the corolla lobes. At the base of the 

 corolla lobes forming the neck or throat there are tufts of hairs, 

 which guard the entrance to the tube. This tube contains a 

 remarkable amount of nectar. I have examined many flowers 

 of this plant, and have always found the tube from half to 

 three-quarters full of nectar. 



Pistil. — The pistil is only half the length of the corolla tube, 

 and is on the same level as the nectar. The stigma is a round 

 head-like disc with a medium thick style. The ovary is small 

 and globular, whitish at the top and green at the base. 



Sepals and Bracts. — The flower stalk bears small bracts, 

 which pass up into fixe calyx lobes; the latter are rounded and 

 have a reddish knob or tubercle at the ])oint. 



Summary. — The following points al)out this plant are of 

 special mterest : — 



1. The flowers are hidden beneath the new growth and out 

 of sight of the casual observer; in fact, they are usually at the 

 ground level, with decaying vegetation almost covering them. 



2. The flowers are pale greenish and very inconspicuous, 

 as far as attractiveness to the eye is concerned. Flj'-ing insects, 

 bees, and moths would have no bright colour to attract them to 

 the j)lant. 



3. The corollti tube contains a remarkable amount of nectar 

 or syrup. This points to the fact that while the flowers are so 

 small, unnoticeable, and unattractive, from the point of view of 



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