498 Miscellaneous. 



the manner in which the compressed margins of the upper lip fit 

 into the rolled-in edges of the lateral lobes of the under lip. The 

 upper lip is compressed, arched, and beaked, presenting an aperture 

 at the apex, through which passes a curved pistil ; the lower lip is 

 reflexed, consisting of three lobes, one median and two lateral, 

 assuming a platform arrangement. Enclosed within the upper lip 

 are four stamens, didynamous,. with their anthers turning backwards, 

 facing each other ventrally. When ripe these anthers split upon the 

 inner side, thus giving a fancied resemblance to an oval snuff-box, 

 thrown backwards upon its hinges. Each cell is filled with white 

 pollen-grains. 



Xow, when the bee alights upon the tube, by means of its trunk 

 it opens the natural cleft above alluded to, and ha\'ing thus gained 

 a partial entrance, it would defeat its intention did not the length 

 of the flower's tube when contrasted with that of the bee's trunk 

 necessitate the admission of the entire head also. In this operation 

 the lips of the flower are pressed apart, the margins of the upper 

 lip are separated to receive the head, and the pollen-grains, already 

 ripe, by the considerable motion to which they are subjected, 

 become dislodged from their cells, and fall down in a dense shower 

 upon the bee's back and head. Having obtained the coveted sweet, 

 it flies to another flower upon a different stalk, as I observed in a 

 score of cases during two days ; but before renewing the preceding 

 operations, it stations itself awhile upon the lower lip, its head 

 coming in contact with the stigma of the pistU. Then, by means of 

 the hairs that line the inner side of the tarsus of each anterior leg, and 

 the constant rubbing togctheptof the parts composing its trophi or 

 instrumenta cibaria, the attached pollen-grains are sent flying in 

 every direction, sure to adhere to the stigma. - 



Whilst observing the above process, I also noticed that after the 

 lips had been pressed apart and were permitted to regain their 

 position, the upper lip, being somewhat elastic, sprung back to its 

 place with considerable force, sending through the aperture, through 

 which passes the pistil, a complete cloud of pollen, enveloping the 

 stigma upon every side. 



This operation can be performed artificially, by taking hold of the 

 under lip with the left thumb and fore finger, and pulling the upper 

 lip backward by the right, and then releasing the hold of the latter : 

 the upper lip springs to its place, spirting the pollen through the 

 aperture upon the left hand. From the above it is to be seen that 

 the plant has two chances of being fertilized — one by its own pollen, 

 and the other by that of another. Although the flower seeds abun- 

 dantly, yet I am disposed to think that it is mainly through the 

 pollen of another that the seeds become perfect. I incline to this 

 opinion because, in an examination of many pods, I noticed that a 

 few seeds were found in a rudimentary condition, apparently mani- 

 festing a tendency to abort, while the majority were in a vigorous 

 condition — the former, doubtless, being the effects of self-fertilization 

 in part, which, as is well known, is a degenerating process. — Proc. 

 Acad. Nat. Sci Philad. June 1873. 



