POLLINATION 



415 



wings and keel down, but the rigid filament tube holds the stamens 

 and style in place. The upper edges of the keel petals separate 

 and the anthers come into view and touch the ventral surface 

 of the abdomen of the insect, leaving upon it a charge of pollen. 

 The insect now visits another flower and takes the same posi- 



FiG. 253. — Bumblebee (Brombus) pushing his way under the stigma and stamen 

 of the blue flag (Iris versicolor). See following figure. (From Folsom.) 



tion on the wings. The stigma touches the same part of the 

 insect which before came in contact with the stamens and is 

 consequently covered with pollen which came from another 

 flower. 



847. In some of the mint family (Salvia) the flowers are 

 somewhat funnel-shaped, with two stamens attached to the 



