SNOWDROP 113 



This harbinger of spring, as it has been called, is about 6 in. in 

 height. The Snowdrop is in flower between January and March. It 

 is perennial and propagated by offsets. 



The flowers are sweet-scented and contain a moderate supply of 

 honey, which is secreted in the green grooves on the inner sides of the 

 flower, and the honey is sheltered from rain by the pendulous posi- 

 tion of the latter and the perianth leaves. The flowers are open from 

 10 a.m. till 4 p.m., when they close. There are 6 anthers which mature 



SNOWDROP (Galanthus nivalis, L.) 



Photo. J. Holmes 



at the same time as the stigma. They are close to the style and open 

 by 2 terminal slits, pollen falling out when they are touched. The 

 anther processes form a cone and end in rigid points, being touched by 

 a bee and shaken so that pollen drops clown when the insect is seeking 

 honey. The insect touches the stigma with pollen from a previous 

 flower before it touches the anthers, as the stigma is longer than the 

 latter. If the flower is not visited by insects it is self-pollinated. The 

 pistil is white, or only green, at first, above the middle. 



The honey bee clings to the perianth dusting itself with pollen on 

 the head. It sweeps the pollen with its brushes and fore- and mid-legs 

 into baskets on its hind-legs. It is visited by hive bees. When 

 insects are absent the anther-stalks become loose, the anthers diverge, 

 and pollen falls on the stigma. 



VOL. III. 38 



