146 THE HUMAN SIDE OF PLANTS 



because of the resemblance of the long, tubular 

 flowers to the bowl of a pipe, employs the same 

 means for kidnapping as 'does its cousin, the 

 clematitis. The bee enters the narrow opening to 

 the flower, finds no obstruction to prevent his push- 

 ing his way along the inward bending hairs, reaches 

 and sips of the nectar, turns and faces a phalanx 

 of dagger-like points ! While the flower holds him 

 prisoner, he is not starved, for there is an abund- 

 ance of nectar to last him the two or three days 

 that he must remain until the tiny ovules have been 

 fertilised, the pollen has ripened, and he has been 

 well powdered with the golden dust that he is to 

 carry to the next flower on his rounds. Then, and 

 then only, the dagger-hairs wither and the bee is 

 permitted to buzz his angry way out. 



The Milkweed family, which uses insects as its 

 means of fertilisation, has an interesting method 

 of catching and holding its guests. In certain spe- 

 cies, like the wavy-leafed milkweed, this is done by 

 means of adhesive glands. 



The moths and other insects which visit the 

 Physianihus albens, a vine-like plant of New Zeal- 

 and, are deliberately gripped by its deadly anthers 

 which it uses as jaws; and they are held fast until 

 they have given their utmost aid toward the fer- 

 tilisation of the flowers. 



