22 



SALVIA. 



[CHAP. i. 



The arrangement and structure of the stamens is, 

 however, very peculiar and interesting. As in Lamium, 

 they are four in number, but one pair is quite rudi- 

 mentary (Fig. 14). In the other (a a) the two anthers, 

 instead of being attached close together at the sum- 

 mit of the filament, are separated by a long movable 

 rod, or connective (Figs. 17, 18, m\ so that they can 

 play freely on the stalk of the stamen. In a natural 

 position, this connective is upright, so that the one 



FIG. 17. Stamenf in their uatural 

 position. 



FIG. 18. Stamens when moved 

 by a Bee. 



anther is situated (Fig. 14) in the neck of the tube, 

 the other under the arched hood. The lower anther, 

 moreover, is more or less rudimentary. Now when a 

 bee comes to suck the honey, it pushes the lower 

 anther out of the way with its head ; the result of 

 which is that the connective swings round, and the 

 upper fertile anther comes down on to the back of the 

 bee (Figs. 15 and 18), and dusts it with pollen, just at 

 the place where, in an older flower (Fig. 16) it would 

 be touched by the stigma, st. 



