PHYSIANTHUS ALBENS. 231 



seeds, comose, adhering to the h\mellje of the dissepiment ; twining^ 

 herbaceous plants ; leaves, opposite, cordate ; racemes, interpetiolar, 

 few-flowered, cymose, flowers white. 



It was first introduced about 1830 from the Province of St. Paul,, 

 Brazil, but did not become popular. About three years ago it was 

 brought forward by the enterprising seedsman Peter Henderson as the 

 " cruel plant." It well deserves the name, for the moths observed 

 (about sixty) were all caught by their proboscis. They were all of 

 one species ( Plusia Gemma) and remained hanging till tney died of 

 starvation. 



The hard edges of the cucullate leaflets are pi'essed together at 

 the top and are open at the base, and I think have a slight contrac- 

 tive movement when touched; certain it is that when the moths try 

 to withdraw their tongue from the nectaries it is caught in the wedge 

 formed by the meeting of the two edges. If the insect was stronger 

 it might withdraw its tongue, and in so doing the pollen masses 

 would stick to it, and on penetrating the next flower, would leave the- 

 mass on the stile. My conclusions, so far as I have gone, are that, 

 the insects so caught cannot aid in cross fei'tilization. In its native 

 state it is possibly done by humming birds or very large insects. 

 Future observation may show the few pods we get are fertilized in 

 the earlier part of the season by liumming-bii'ds or Sphingidce, and 

 I would ask you during the coming season to note carefully our 

 native A. Cornuti and Tuherosa and obtain as many specimens as 

 possible. 



