156 



FIELD AND WOODLAND PLANTS 



always self-pollinated. In both these flowers the stamens are 

 mounted on the top of a tube as above described ; and in both the 

 stamens are crowded round the numerous styles while the flower 

 is yet j^oung, so that insects which visit the flower for nectar can 

 hardly fail to dust themselves with pollen. In M. sylvestris, how- 

 ever, the stamens are mature before the stigmas, and the former 

 droop, thus bringuig the anthers below the level of the stigmas, so 



that the flower 

 could hardly fer- 

 tilise itself even 

 if anthers and 

 stigmas matured 

 simultaneously. 

 But later the 

 styles bend down- 

 wards, thus bring- 

 ing the stigmas 

 to the position of 

 tlie withered sta- 

 mens in order to 

 catch the pollen 

 brought by in- 

 sects from other 

 flowers. Further, 

 the pollen cells of 

 this species are 

 covered with 

 minute hooks by 

 means of which 

 they attach them- 

 selves to the hairy 

 legs of bees. 



The anthers and stigmas of M. rotundifclia are both matured 

 together ; and the styles lengthen, and bend downwards, causing 

 the stigmas to twine themselves among the numerous stamens in 

 such a manner that the flower can hardly fail to fertihse itself. 

 Further, if we w-atch the flowers of these two species on a sunny day, 

 we find that insects visit the flowers of 3L si/lvesiris freely, while 

 they are seldom attracted to the smaller and less conspicuous blooms 

 of 31. rotundifolia. 



The third species referred to is the Musk Mallow {M. moschnta). 



THK EED CAMriON. 



