Dogbane and Milkweed 



same stalk will support only from two to six seed- 

 pods, and a pair of pods represents a single flower. 



So most of the flowers die leaving no memorial 

 behind them, and the flies which they have vic- 

 timized are avenged. 



In the language of some elegiac poetry we 

 pause to breathe a sigh over the fate of the hap- 

 less flies which, like Haman of old, come to a 

 feast and thereat are captured and slain. 



However, these unfortunates are but a small pro- 

 portion of the milk- 

 weed's fly visitors. 

 The great majority 

 make off, after taking 

 their fill of nectar, 

 without carrying away 

 any portion of the 

 pollen which the flower 

 is endeavoring to send 

 to its neighbors. This 

 waste of nectar is 

 bad for the milkweed, 

 which would be bet- 

 ter off with fewer fly 

 visitors. So the flower 

 would profit by any device which would dis- 



FIG. 88. A dogbane flower and 

 its captive. 



