CRAB APPLE 173 



and the thick fleshy coat consists of peel, a thick juicy layer, with a 

 thin, tough, parchment-like layer, the "core", and encloses 2 brown 

 seeds in each chamber. 



The flowers are conspicuous and numerous. The honey is half- 

 concealed, and secreted at the base of the flower. The flowers are 

 much visited by insects. The flowers are sweet-scented, most strongly 

 at night, so that the plant is visited by moths. The stigma ripens 

 before the anthers, being receptive when the flower opens. The 



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Photo H. Irving 



CRAB APPLE (Pyms Malus, L.) 



flowers last from 5 to 6 days. The 5 stigmas stand above the stamens, 

 so that an insect visiting the flower touches the stigma first. The 

 anthers open on the second day, the outer rows of stamens ripening 

 first. In some flowers the stigmas and stamens are more or less 

 touching. The flowers are directed towards the light obliquely, so 

 that some pollen must fall on the stigmas, and self-pollination occurs in 

 the absence of insect visitors and in w r et weather. Self-pollinated 

 flowers do not produce good fruit. 



The plant is visited by Bombus terrestris, B. agrorum, B. lapi- 

 dariits, B. hortorum, Apis mellifica, Anthophora pilipes, Andrena 

 albicans, Halictus sex-notatus, Osmia rufa, Bombylius major, Empis 



