442 - THE FERTILISATION OF FLOWERS. [PART ITI. 
tube of the corolla, which is about 2 to 3 mm. long, and is sheltered 
from rain by a ring of long stiff hairs at the mouth of the tube. 
In case of insect-visits, cross-fertilisation is insured by the proter- 
androus or proterogynous condition, and by the situation of the 
stigma which projects beyond the anthers. I have never observed 
Fia. 150.—Veronica spicata, L. 
1.—Flower, shortly before dehiscence of the anthers (a), viewed from the front. The stigma (b) 
is still immature, and stands far below the anthers. 
o, superior petal; ss, lateral, wu, inferior, petals. 
2.—Ditto, somewhat more expanded, from the side. . 
8.—Ditto, from the side. The anthers have withered; the stigma is mature, and stands below 
and in front of the anthers (x 34). 
4.—Young flower, from another individual. The style already protrudes from the flower, and 
the stigma is so far developed that pollen readily adheres to it. The anthers are still closed and 
concealed within the tube. 
5.—Another somewhat older flower, from the same individual, viewed from the front. The stigma 
is fully ripe, the anthers are in the act of dehiscing (x 34). 
6.—Ovary and nectary (hk) from the side. 
7.—Nectary, after removal of the ovary, from above. 
§8.—An ovary, with two imperfect styles (x 7). 
self-fertilisation, though it may now and then take place by pollen 
falling on the stigma. 
Visitors : Hymenoptera—(a) Apide : (1) Apis mellifica, L. %, ¢.p., ors. ; 
it even thrusts its proboscis into the lowest, oldest flowers whose corolle 
have fallen off; (2) Prosopis communis, Nyl. 9 g, s.; (0) Sphegide: 
(3) Psammophila viatica, L. ¢, s.; (4) Cerceris labiata, F. 2 ¢, ab., s.; (5) 
C. nasuta, K1. s. 
Near Bozen according to Gerstiicker, V. spicata is visited chiefly 
by species of Xylocopa (X. violacea, L., X. cyanescens, Brullé, X. 
valga, Gerst.). 
328. VERONICA HEDERAFOLIA, L.—The small, solitary, pale 
flowers are less conspicuous than those of any other species described 
here; they are very seldom visited by insects, but almost without 
exception bear good seed, and the species is one of the commonest of 
