SCARLET PIMPERNEL 143 



base, and the edges are notched and hairy. The corolla is wheel- 

 shaped. The capsule, a pyxis, is shining, 5-nerved, opening trans- 

 versely, and containing many brown, angular seeds. 



Scarlet Pimpernel is usually about 6 in. in height. The flowers 

 bloom between June and September. It is an annual, propagated 

 by seeds. 



The flower, which contains no honey, is homogamous (the stamens 

 and pistil maturing simultaneously), so that the flower is usually self- 



SCARLET PIMPERNEL (Anagallis arvensis, L.) 



pollinated, as it is only expanded from 9 a.m. till 3 p.m., and few insects 

 visit it. If insects visit it, it is both self- and cross -pollinated. The 

 petals unite in a fleshy ring at the base and then spread out vertically 

 10-12 mm. The stamens are projected above the style, which is 

 between them, and is bent down, and an insect settling on the lower 

 parts towards the anthers, first touches the stigma, the anthers being 

 covered with pollen. The stigma may also be self-pollinated. When 

 the flower closes the stigma is drawn back and touches the 3 inferior 

 stamens, which cause it to be self- pollinated, unless insects have 

 visited the flower beforehand, and have removed its pollen, and 

 transferred it, or fresh pollen, to the stigma. The petals soon drop, 

 and as they fall touch the stigma with pollen. 



The Scarlet Pimpernel is visited by a Hymenopterous insect, 

 Halictus nwrio. 



