CRAB APPLE 



173 



and the thick fleshy coat consists of peel, a thick juicy layer, with a 

 thin, tough, parchment-like layer, the "core", and encloses 2 brown 

 seeds in each chamber. 



The flowers are conspicuous and 'numerous. The honey is half- 

 concealed, and secreted at the base of the flower. The flowers are 

 much visited by insects. The flowers are sweet-scented, most strongly 

 at night, so that the plant is visited by moths. The stigma ripens 

 before the anthers, being receptive when the flower opens. The 



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CRAB APPLE (Pyrus Mains, L.) 



flowers last from 5 to 6 days. The 5 stigmas stand above the stamens, 

 so that an insect visiting the flower touches the stigma first. The 

 anthers open on the second day, the outer rows of stamens ripening- 

 first. In some flowers the stigmas and stamens are more or less 

 touching. The flowers are directed towards the light obliquely, so 

 that some pollen must fall on the stigmas, and self-pollination occurs in 

 the absence of insect visitors and in wet weather. Self-pollinated 

 flowers do not produce good fruit. 



The plant is visited by Bombus terrestris, B. agronim, B. lapi- 

 darius, B. hortorum, Apis mellifica, Anthophora pilipes, Andrena 

 albicans, Halictus sex-notatus, Osmia rufa, Bombylius major, Empis 



