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ovary, but do not open to the exterior ^. The flower mechanism agrees essentially 

 with that of the preceding species, but automatic self-pollination becomes possible 

 when the flowers close in dull weather. 



Visitors. Knuth (Kiel Botanic Garden) observed the honey-bee (26. 4. '69), 

 po-cltg., but not touching the stigma. 



2710. T. Didieri Jord. 



Visitors. Loew (Berlin Botanic Garden) observed a Scarabaeid beetle (Octonia 

 mirata), po-dvg. in the base of the flowers, and a bee (Halictus cylindricus F. 5), 

 lying in the base of the flower, and thickly covered with pollen. 



872. Gagea Salisb, 

 Flowers odourless, green externally and yellow internally, being thus only 

 conspicuous when open. Nectar exposed to half-concealed, and secreted at the base 

 of the perianth leaves in the angle between them and the superposed stamens. 

 Schulz states that the stamens or the style are sometimes absent in almost all species. 

 Usually protogyny. 



2711. G. fascicularis Salisb. (= G. lutea Ker-GawL, and G. sylvatica Loud.). 

 (Herm. MuUer, 'Weit. Beob.,' I, p. 274; Kerner, 'Nat. Hist. PI.,' Eng. Ed. i, II, 

 PP- 93> 391 j Knuth, * Bloemenbiol. Bijdragen.') Hermann Miiller says that the 

 open flowers of this species are feebly protogynous. When they open^ the stigmas 

 are provided with long papillae, but the anthers dehisce soon afterwards, both they 

 and the stigmas remaining functional, throughout anthesis. Kerner describes the 

 anthers as being only about a third of their original length after dehiscence. Cross- 

 pollination is ensured by insect-visits in the first stage of anthesis; and in a later 

 one, self-pollination may be effected with equal facility; this may then also take 

 place automatically. Kerner states that autogamy occurs pseudo-cleistogamously 

 in flowers remaining closed in bad weather. 



Visitors. The following were recorded by the observers, and for the localities 

 stated. 



Herm. Muller (Westphalia), small beetles and bees ; in one flower there were 

 no less than three individuals of the beetle Meligethes, each in a nectar-secreting 

 angle, while a bee (Halictus nitidus Schenck 5) flew away from a fourth such angle : 

 3 bees (one Andrena gwynana K. 5, and 2 Halictus leucopus K. 5), nect-skg., were 

 seen in a second flower. Knuth, the honey-bee, freq., skg. Wiistnei (Alsen), the 

 bee Andrena chrysosceles K. 



2712. G. stellaris Salisb. (= G. arvensis SchulL). (Herm. Muller, 'Weit 

 Beob.,' I, pp. 274-5; Warnstorf, Verh. bot. Ver., Berlin, xxxviii, 1896.) Warnstorf 

 says that the flowers of this species are protogynous. The stamens are sometimes 

 longer, sometimes shorter than the style, and sometimes the anthers are at the same 

 level as the stigma. 



Visitors. Herm. Muller observed the following in Thuringia. 



A beetle (Meligethes sp.), nect-lkg. ; an ant (Lasius niger L. 5) remaining in 

 the same nectar-secreting angle, and being an unbidden guest; 7 bees i. Andrena 

 albicrus K. J, skg.; 2. A. gwynana K. 5, do.; 3. Apis mellifica Z. 5, do. ; 4. Halictus 



^ Cf. the foot-note to Leucojum aestivum Z. 



