CHANGE OF POSITION OF ANTHERS AND STIGMAS. 



305 



seventh group as shown by the Nightshade (Atropa), Scopolia, Henbane {Hyos- 

 cyamus) and the Mandrake (Mandragora) has been already described on p. 278 

 and illustrated in figs. 279 ^ and 279 ^. In young blossoms the stigma stands in the 

 middle of the flowers, and the anthers lie against the walls of the corolla: in older 

 flowers the anthers stand in the middle, and the style becomes pressed against the 

 corolla. 



The shrubby species of Honeysuckle (Lonicera alpigena, nigra, and Xylosteum), 

 and the genus Scrophularia may be taken as examples of the eighth group. Their 

 flowers are horizontally placed. At first the straight style rises out of the centre 

 of the flower, and the stigma is held directly in the path leading to the honey. 



Fig. 289.— Change of Position of Anthers and Stigmas. 



• inflorescence of the Red Valerian {Centranthm ruber). « A single flower of the Red Valerian shortly after opening. ' The 

 same flower at a later stage. * Inflorescence of Teucrium orientale. ' Single flower of tlie same plant shorlly after 

 opening. « The same flower at a later stage, i and * nat. size; 2, s, 6_ and « somewhat magnified. 



The anthers are above the stigma in Lonicera, but in Scrophularia they are hidden 



at the end of their arched filaments in the cavity of the pitcher-shaped corolla. 



Later on the stigma is moved out of the path by the downward curvature or sharp 



bending of the style, the anthers assuming the position occupied by the stigma hy 



means of a corresponding straightening and alteration of direction of their filaments. 



The Hellebore {Helleborus), a type of the ninth group, has comparatively large 



flowers with abundant honey. The honey is not in the centre of the flower, as in 



the instances quoted above, but is secreted in cornet-shaped receptacles outside the 



ring of stamens. Accordingly the honey-sucking insects do not go to the centre of 



the flower but to the circumference, and this explains why the stigmas and anthers, 



; which are to be brushed by the insects, are ai-ranged in a corresponding circle. 



; When the flower opens the styles radiate outwards, and are bent, so that the stigmas 



I stand over the honey receptacles. The anthers are ci'owded together in the middle 



of the flower, and are not touched by the insect as it enters. Afterwards the styles 



straighten and move towards the centre of the flower while the stamen-filaments 



Vol. II. 70 



