ROSEBAY 



47 



in some the stigma is ripe first, and self-pollination would occur if 

 insects did not visit them. 



The flowers are large and purple, in a tall, conspicuous spike, and 

 are much visited by insects. Honey is secreted by the green, fleshy 

 upper surface of the ovary, and is easily reached by insects, but pro- 

 tected from the rain, as it then bends over. The expanded, flattened 

 lower ends of the fila- 

 ments or anther-stalks 

 form a hollow cone, 

 which encloses the 

 base of the style and 

 the honey surround- 

 ing it, protecting the 

 latter ; and where 

 the style issues at 

 the apex of the cone 

 hairs prevent the en- 

 trance of rain, while 

 insects can gain access 

 through the anther- 

 stalks. 



In young flowers 

 pollen covers the 

 stamens above, and 

 they project, but the 

 style is short and bent 

 over, with the stigmas 

 folded together; but 

 in older flowers the 

 empty stamens are 

 bent down and turn 

 outward, and the style 

 is longer and projects forward, with 4 stigmas outspread and recurved 

 taking the place of the stamens. The insects can alight, suck, and 

 collect pollen easily. Cross-pollination is secured, and self-pollination 

 is impossible. The flowers are visited by Apis, Bombus, Sphecodes, 

 Nomada, Cerceris, Crabro, Ammophila, Tenthredo, Empis, Syrphus, 

 Ino statices. 



The seeds are provided with a tuft of hairs, which aid them in 

 their dispersal by the wind after the pods or long narrow capsules have 

 split open to release them. The pods split from above downwards 



Photo. B. Hanley 



ROSEBAV (Epilobium angustifolium , L.) 



