stamens stand close to the pistil; they reach about half way 

 up the corolla or somewhat higher. Just above their slender 

 bases the filaments suddenly grow very thick and then gradually 

 thinner again (Fig. 24 E); they are covered with short, stiff hairs, 

 and on the swollen part with small pointed warts. The anthers 

 are dark crimson; at first they are horizontal so that the small, 

 terminal, hornlike appendages turn directly outwards or some- 

 what downwards (Fig. 2A H, I); afterwards they are tilted up, 

 so that the appendages are turned rather more upwards. Finally 

 they open by a very vN'ide pore which turns inwards and upwards 

 (Fig. 24 E, F, G). The appendages are short, thick and glabrous, 

 or almost so (Fig. 24 D, E, H, 7, K) ; sometimes they are totally 

 absent (Fig. 24 B, C). 



The pistil is green and glabrous (Fig. 24 Z)|, and the base 

 appears to secrete honey ^ (Fig. 24 /)). 



The stigma has low antisepalous protuberances; it is situated 

 at somewhat varying levels (Fig. 24 D^K). 



The flowers are homogamous , or perhaps they begin by 

 being protogynous for a very short time. The stigma is viscid, 

 even in the bud, and can retain the pollen-grains (Fig. 24 Ж ). 

 But the anthers open either simultaneously with the corolla, 

 or after the latter has expanded. 



Self-pollination may very easily take place and appears to 

 do so regularly and very early. It is facilitated by the pores 

 of the anthers being very wide and by the large sligma taking 

 up so much space inside the throat of the corolla, beneath the 

 anthers, that the pollen must almost inevitably fall upon it 

 (compare Fig. 24 5, K). 



If insects visit the plant, cross-pollination may take place, 

 the stigma being the part first touched; but the flowers open 

 so very early in spring and in such winterly surroundings, that 



1 Skottsberg is of opinion that it is the base of the corolla which secretes 

 honey; he mentions "10 Gruben in (irunde der Krone, halbdurchsichtig." 



