SHEEP'S BIT SCABIOUS 



insects to insert their tongues between the anther-stalks. The hairs 

 are excluded from the base of the flowers by the shrivelled anthers, 

 which point obliquely upwards, and the anther-stalks. Pollination of 

 many flowers by large insects is possible because the flowers are small 

 and crowded, and an insect touches several flowers together. The 

 styles lengthen till they are longer than the corolla lobes, and the 

 flower is proterandrous, the anthers ripening first. Self-pollination is 

 rendered difficult. The style 

 at first bears a brush covered 

 with pollen, and after the 

 pollen and hairs have disap- 

 peared displays a 2-lobed 

 stigma. The small size of 

 the florets is counterbalanced 

 by the number of insect 

 visitors. It is visited by 

 some 50 Hymenoptera, 30 

 Diptera, 30 Lepidoptera, in- 

 cluding Hawkmoths, and 

 Beetles. 



The capsule is 2-valved 

 at the top, and contains 

 numerous seeds, being aided 

 in dispersal by the wind, the 

 seeds falling out above. 



Sheep's Bit Scabious is 

 a sand-loving plant growing 

 on sand soil, and is a rock 

 plant also, growing on gra- 

 nitic and slaty rocks. 



A moth, Homceosoma nimbella, and a Heteropterous insect, Strongy- 

 locoris luridus, are found upon it. 



Jasione, Theophrastus, was a Greek name applied to one of the 

 Campanulas; and the second Latin name indicates its montane habit. 



Sheep's Bit Scabious is called Blue Bonnets, Blue Buttons, Blue 

 Daisy, Iron Flower, Sheep's Scabious, Sheep's Bit. 



ESSENTIAL SPECIFIC CHARACTERS: 



1 86. Jasione montana, L. Stem short, branched, leaves radical, in 

 a rosette, oblong, hairy, alternate, flowerheads lilac-blue, in a terminal 

 stalked head, anthers united, corolla 5-fid. 



Photo. Dr. Somerville Hastings 



SHEEP'S BIT SCABIOUS (Jasione montana, L.) 



