THE ANNALS 



MAGAZINE OF NATURAL HISTORY. 



[FOURTH SERIES.] 



No. 72. DECEMBER 1873. 



LI II. — On the Protection of Pollen from Premature 

 Dislodgment or Moisture. By M. A. Kerner.* 



The works of Darwin, Delpino, Hildebrandt, &c., on the part 

 played by insects in the fecundation of phanerogamous plants 

 have lately attracted attention to this subject, and led to 

 numerous observations on the peculiarities of the organization 

 of flowers. The investigation just published by M. Kerner 

 relates to a point which had scarcely been touched previously, 

 but the importance of which can hardly be doubted — namely, 

 the precautions taken to keep the pollen intact until the 

 moment when it is gathered by insects, and especially to pre- 

 serve it from premature dispersion by means of the wind, or 

 from irremediable injury by water. 



There is a large category of plants which escape the dangers 

 just referred to, and the whole organization of which is directed 

 to utilize the action of the wind for the dispersion of pollen. 

 These are the anemophilous plants of Delpino, the dry and 

 pulverulent pollen of which escapes in clouds at the least 

 shake. Various peculiarities of organization all accord with 

 the final object to be attained. Thus the flowers, in order to 

 give free access to the wind, are never concealed under leaves, 

 but always suspended at the extremity of slender branches 

 (amentaceous trees), or at the summit of an elevated stalk 

 (grasses, Cyperaceae, &c.). Moreover, as they have not to 



* Translated by W. S. Dallas, F.L.S., from the Abstract in the 

 Bibliotheque Universelle, August 16, 1873, tome xlvii. p. 302. 

 Ann. & Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 4. Vol. xii. 30 



