HERB ROBERT 147 



stigmas expand and separate before the outer stamens wither, and the 

 papillar surface is exposed, though previously hidden. The 5 inner 

 stamens become erect as the outer wither, and surround the style, 

 which elongates, the 5 stigmas standing just above the circle of pollen- 

 covered anthers. At the base of each outer stamen a hollow occurs 

 at the base of each sepal, in which the honey lies, and this is only 

 reached by insects with a tongue 7 mm. long, or those which can thrust 

 the head into the narrow portion of the flower. 



A fly, Rhingia rostrata, with proboscis 11-12 mm., can easily get at 

 the honey. It settles first on one petal, then on another, and in older 

 flowers the proboscis first touches the stigmas, then the ripe anthers, 

 but in younger flowers only the mature anthers. 



The flower is visited by Diptera, Syrphidse, Rhingia, Coleoptera, 

 Dasytes, and Lepidoptera, such as Pieris napi, the Green-veined 

 White. 



Herb Robert is dispersed by its own agency. The fruit is made 

 up of several carpels, which split up into I- seeded parts, and the 

 calyx expands and closes up a second time when the seeds are ripe 

 and the carpels split, the seeds being scattered by an explosive move- 

 ment. 1 



Emphytus carpini, Amasis obscura (Hymenoptera) live on it. 



The plant was called Robertiamtm, Fuchs, from Robert Duke of 

 Normandy, or from St. Robert. 



Its names are numerous: Bird's-eye, Bloodwort, Soldiers' Buttons, 

 Cuckoo-meat, Cuckoo's Eyes, Cuckoo's Victuals, Death-come-quickly, 

 Dog's Toes, Dragon's Blood, Fellow Grass, Fellow-wort, Fox Grass, 

 Garden Gate, Fox, Scotch and Wild Geranium, Herb Robert, Jenny 

 Wren, Kiss Me, Knife and Fork, London Pink, Wild Pink, Ragged 

 Robin, Redbreasts, Red Shank, Redweed, Robert Robin, Robin 

 Flower, Robin Hood, Robin-i'-th'-Hedge, Robin Redbreast, Robin 

 Redshanks, Robin's Eye, Sailor's Knot, Stinking Bob, Stock Bill, 

 Stork's Bill, Wren's Flowers. 



Tea was made from it with Ground Ivy and Five-finger Grass. 

 The plant was much used for red rash. Because of the disagreeable 

 smell it was called Fox Geranium. Where it is called Death-come- 

 quickly it is not plucked. Once it was a remedy for gout. The origin 

 of the Geranium is explained thus. The prophet Mohammed one day 

 washed his shirt, threw it upon a mallow plant to dry, but when it 



1 When the petals fall the axis lengthens. The 5 seeds at the base of the column enclosed in capsules, 

 rod-like above, form part of the axis at first, but separate. When ripe the carpels become erect, the outer 

 layers of the extremities become tense, and the rods are jerked out and the seeds scattered. 



