328 ANGIOSPERMAEDICOTYLEDONES 



LXXXIV. ORDER NYCTAGINEAE JUSS. 



740. Oxybaphus L'H^t. 



2405. O. viscosus L'Hdrit. (Heimerl, Verb. Zool.-Bot. Ges., Wien, xxxviii, 

 1888.) Heimerl describes tbree stages of antbesis in tbis species : (i) The stigma 

 is receptive. (2) Tbe antbers debisce, and self-pollination becomes possible. (3) Tbe 

 antbers, still covered witb pollen, brusb tbe stigma. 



741. Mirabilis Riv. 



2406. M. Jalapa L. (Heimerl, op. cit.; Kemer, ' Nat. Hist. PL,' Eng. Ed. i, 

 II, pp. 212 and 357.) Heimerl describes tbe mecbanism of tbis species as agreeing 

 witb tbat of tbe preceding one. Kerner says tbat tbe flowers open between 7-8 p.m. 

 Tbe stigma is tben receptive, wbile tbe antbers do not debisce until 10-15 minutes 

 later : tbere is tbus only a very sbort time between tbe two stages. Autogamy finally 

 takes place in tbis nigbt flower, by tbe rolling up of tbe filaments and style; tbe 

 periantb, now becoming pulpy, forms a kind of cork over the tangle constituted by 

 tbe thread-like filaments and tbe style. 



Visitors. ^Junger noticed especially the hawk-moth Sphinx convolvuli Z. 

 (Herm. MuUer, ' Weit. Beob.,' II, p. 223.) 



742. Acleisanthes A. Gray. 



2407. A. longiflora A. Gray (= Mirabilis longiflora Z.). Heimerl says that 

 the flowers of tbis species are probably adapted for pollination by nocturnal hawk- 

 moths. Sprengel (' Entd. Geh.,' p. 121) concluded from tbe nectar-guides that they 

 were day flowers, but tbis is doubtful, on account of the fragrance perceptible at 

 night. 



2408. A. Wrightii A. Gray. (Heimerl, op. cit.) This species bears cleisto- 

 gamous flowers. 



743. Ambronia L. 



2409. A. umbellata Lam. (Heimerl, op. cit.) Flowers of this species are 

 capable of self-fertilization. 



744. Allionia Loefl. 



Kemer states (' Nat. Hist. PI.,' Eng. Ed. i, II, p. 304) tbat in species of this 

 genus tbe stigma is situated at first at tbe end of the outstretched projecting style in 

 front of tbe antbers, so tbat an insect visitor must first brusb against it. Later on the 

 style bends to tbe side at an angle of 80-90, removing the stigma from the line of 

 approach to tbe nectar, and thus enabling the visitor to touch tbe antbers. 



2410. A. violacea L. (= Oxybaphus violaceus Choisy). (Kerner, op. cit., II, 

 P' 357-) The flowers of tbis species are protogynous, and autogamy occurs after 

 a few hours by the rolling up of the filaments and style. 



