CHAPTER XIII 



at any rate, she has never been detected eating. She spends consider- 

 able time at the stigma forcing the pollen down the stigmatic cavity ; 

 usually she deposits an egg in each of the six seed divisions of the 

 capsule, and repairs each time to the stigma to deposit pollen. The 

 adaptation of the moth's antennae and ovipositor to the conditions of 

 pollination is perhaps the most wonderful part of the story. Some 

 species of Yucca secrete a little honey, but it seems to play no part in 

 pollination. There may be occasionally accidental pollination with- 

 out the agency of the moth, but ordinarily, if the Yucca produces 

 fruit, the moth is found on the flowers, and its larvae in the fruits. 

 Summaries of the studies on the Yucca were published in the annual 

 report of the Missouri Botanical Garden issued May 1892 and March 

 1893. A brief popular account can be found in the Popular Science 

 Monthly, Vol. 41. 



Our Yuccas are utilized in various ways by the Indians. Not only 

 the fleshy fruits, but the seeds of the dry fruits, and even young flower 

 shoots are eaten ; the woody fibre is used for cordage, horse blankets, 

 hats, baskets, &c., and macerated sections of the stems serve as a sub- 

 stitute for soap ; in these latter days sections of pith from the larger 

 stems are put to various uses by tradesmen, artists, surgeons, scien- 

 tists and manufacturers. 



The century plant, Agave Americana, is indigenous to Mexico, 

 and the natives have found even more uses for it than our Indians 

 have discovered for the Yucca. Subterranean stems and leaf fibres 

 serve similar purposes in both cases, but the Mexicans cut off the 

 central bud of the Agave, just as it is about to develop into the flower 

 cluster, and collect the abundant sap that the plant has so long been 

 preparing for its supreme effort; by fermentation or distillation, they 

 make of this juice their national drinks, pulque and mescal. Califor- 

 nia children frequently have opportunity to watch the marvellously 

 rapid growth and development of the Agave flower stalk, and to 

 observe the throngs of winged creatures that drink honey from the 

 overflowing flowers. 



Most introduced Liliflorse have provisions for cross pollination so 

 obvious that children can find them out for themselves. Of course 

 the pollinating agent of their native country may not exist here. 

 The rushes, Juncaceae, like the lilies, have flowers with parts in threes, 

 but they are inconspicuous and are adapted to wind pollination. The 

 Spanish moss, which so beautifully drapes the trees of our South 

 Eastern States, and the pine-apple of commerce, also have flowers 

 with parts in threes, and are usually grouped here ; the former has the 

 appearance of a lichen, but is really a leafless epiphyte living on moist- 



103 



