cparrim.] THE MECHANISMS OF FLOWERS. 247 
Chrysosplenium oppositifolium, L., is proterogynous with per- 
sistent stigmas (78). 
156. BerGENIA (SAXIFRAGA) CRASSIFOLIA, L.—I saw (April 4, 
1868) hive-bees and Bombus hortorum, L. ¢, greedily sucking 
honey on this plant, and found pollen on the stigmas of several | 
flowers whose anthers were not yet open. 
157. PARNASSIA PALUSTRIS, L.—Sprengel described very fully 
the structure of this plant, but remained in doubt not only as to 
Fia. 80.—Parnassia palustris, L. 
_ A,—Flower, seen from above, after removal of three sepals and four petals. The flower had just 
opened. One stamen has risen up and placed its anther on the centre of the pistil, whose stigmas 
et yet nature; the anther is on the point of dehiscing, and will cover its upper surface with 
polien,. 
B.—-Essential organs of a flower, in which four stamens have shed their pollen; the fifth lies, 
covered with pollen, upon the pistil. The stigmas are not yet developed. 
C.—Essential organs of a flower in the second (female) condition. (A—C, x 54.) 
D.—A staminode, more magnified. 
ildebrand has observed Helophilus floreus, L., wpon its flowers. 
The anthers before maturity lie close upon the conical ovary, 
which rises up in the middle of the flower and overtops them ; 
they ripen slowly one after the other, each in turn elongating till 
it brings its anther immediately over the end of the pistil, and 
then dehiscing on the upper surface. It afterwards bends outwards 
_and is succeeded by another, and finally, when all the anthers have 
dehisced and moved away, the stigma becomes developed. 
The curious nectaries stand immediately opposite to the petals, 
alternating with the stamens. Each consists of a short, broad 
peduncle, broadening above into a fleshy disk, which secretes 
