q 
} 
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PART II. | THE MECHANISMS OF FLOWERS. 519 
From the dark-red colour and putrid smell of A. grandiflora, 
Sw., in Jamaica, Delpino conjectured that it was visited by carrion- 
flies ; and also that the tendril which passes from the upper margin 
of a flower to curl round a neighbouring twig held the flower, even 
during the visits of heavier insects, in the position which it must 
occupy to act as a temporary prison (178, 360). , 
Orv. PROTEACEZ. 
The Proteacez are proterandrous according to Delpino. On 
a superficial examination they seem to fertilise themselves, for the 
anthers open in the bud and shed their pollen on the knobbed 
style. Even Treviranus fell into this error. But the stigmas 
themselves only come to maturity much later, when probably the 
pollen has been mostly carried away. According to Delpino 
honey-sucking birds are the visitors for several species (178, 360). 
See also Bentham’s very interesting essay “On the Styles of 
Australian Proteacez ” (85). 
Orv. THYMELAACE Z&. 
Daphne Mezxereum, L.—The corolla-tube is 6 mm. long, and 2 
mm. wide at the mouth. The flower is fitted for a miscellaneous 
lot of bees, long-tongued flies, and butterflies, by which it is found 
to be visited (Apide : Apis, Anthophora, Osmia, Halictus ; Diptera, 
Syrphide : Hristalis ; Lepidoptera: Vanessa wrticw). ‘The proboscis 
of such insects in entering the tube first rubs against the anthers 
(which form two whorls of four each in the upper part of the tube) 
without getting dusted by their pollen, which is only very slightly 
sticky ; it then comes in contact at a lower level with the stigma, 
before reaching the honey, which is secreted by the base of the 
ovary and fills the lower part of the tube. The insect’s proboscis 
only gets dusted with pollen as it is being drawn out of the flower. 
In absence of insects pollen falls of itself upon the stigma. 
Daphne striata, Tratinnick.—This plant is a striking feature in 
the higher Alps, with its hemispherical, close-set trusses of white 
or red strong-scented flowers. By these characters, and by the 
narrow mouth of its corolla (whose tube is 10 mm. long, and whose 
mouth is only 1 mm. wide), it is specially adapted for Lepidoptera, 
which visit it in great numbers (578, vol. xi.; 589, 590, II. ; 609). 
The flowers emit their scent chiefly in the evening, and are visited 
especially by Sphingide and moths. 
Leucosmia is dimorphic (167, 351). 
