SYMPLOCARPUS FCETIDUS. SKUNK-CAEBAGE. 



59 



degrees for about three days, the stamens will be fully developed 

 in that time, but if only a very little above freezing point, it 

 takes about a week to mature them after the pistil has been 

 fully developed and is ready for pollenization ; for the pistil 

 seems to finish its growth before the stamens begin to make 

 theirs. The stigma is a beautiful object under the lens, being 

 capped by a crown of delicate, fringy hairs. The anthers are 

 very large, and soon burst, discharging an immense amount of 

 pollen, not only on their own pistil, but on those below. At the 

 bottom of the shell-like spathe an immense quantity collects, and 

 gives us some idea of the wondrous exuberance of nature. 



Again, there is much of interest in this flower in connection 

 with modern theories of the necessity and utility of cross-fertil- 

 ization. Aracece have dry, dusty pollen, and generally color- 

 less floral envelopes, and they are thought to be cross-fertilized 

 by the aid of the wind. The maturity of the pistil before the 

 stamens in the same flower is also regarded as indicating that 

 the purposes of nature would be better served by the pollen 

 being received by the stigma from another flower. In the case 

 of our species, the spathe coils round the flower-head and pro- 

 tects it from the wind. It might be that the spathe is neces- 

 sarily coiled to protect the flowers in this dangerous season, and 

 so color is bestowed on it to attract pollen-carrying insects ; but 

 there are none of this class at this season. The scent may 

 attract flies, and these do visit the flowers. If the temperature 

 goes suddenly to sixty degrees, as it often does in early spring, 

 even though the thermometer may have been for days below 

 the freezing point, flies will abound. Pollen might possily be 

 carried by them to the unfertilized pistils, and this would appear 

 so probable that any one delighting in generalizations might 

 take it for granted that cross-fertilization is thus effected ; but 

 the student takes nothing for granted when actual observation 

 can be had. The writer of this has never been able to detect 

 the slightest trace of pollen on the stigmas until they receive 

 it from the flowers in their own spathe. Other students may, 



