LEGUMINOSAE 305 



210. Tetragonolobus Scop. 

 Agrees with Lotus. 



710. T. siliquosus Roth. Hermann Miiller (' Alpenblumen,' p. 238) describes 

 the mechanism of the large yellow humble-bee flowers of this species. A proboscis 

 12-14 mm. in length is required to secure all the nectar. Kirchner ('Beitr'age,' 

 p. 42) adds that the somewhat S-shaped style thickens towards its end, becoming 

 thinner again for the last millimetre. The stigma is situated here, on the side 

 directed outwards and upwards, and indented. 



Visitors. These are undoubtedly humble-bees, but the nectar is concealed 

 so deeply that it can only be reached by long-tongued species. A. Schulz says 

 that, in Central Germany, shorter-tongued species steal the nectar by perforating 

 the flowers. Loew observed Bombus lapidarius L. , skg. in the Berlin Botanic 

 Garden. MacLeod noticed 2 humble-bees and an Osmia in the Pyrenees (Bot. 

 Jaarb. Dodonaea, Ghent, iii, 1891, p. 437). 



211. Amorpha L. 



Protogynous nectar-yielding flowers, devoid of carina and alae. 



711. A. fruticosa L. As emphasized by Delpino (' Ult. oss./ pp. 64-8), and 

 subsequently by Hermann Miiller ('Weit. Beob.,' II, pp. 244-5), me flowers of this 

 species, which has been introduced into Europe from North America, have neither 

 alae nor carina, so that the vexillum alone enfolds the stamens and pistil in the 

 bud. When first the flower opens, only the style with its stigma already receptive 

 projects beneath the vexillum, while the still immature anthers are concealed beneath 

 it. The stamens soon elongate, however, so that they often project beyond the 

 stigma. If the latter has not already been pollinated it remains receptive till the 

 anthers dehisce, so that self-pollination takes place should insect-visits fail. If, 

 however, these take place, cross-pollination is secured as a result of protogyny. 



Visitors. Herm. Miiller observed the honey-bee, very freq., skg. and po-cltg. 

 As the individual flowers do not possess alighting- or supporting-surfaces (alae and 

 carina), bees use the whole inflorescence as such. 



712. A. canescens Nutt. The flower mechanism is like that of A. fruticosa. 



212. Galega Toum. 



Nectarless bee flowers, lilac or white in colour; with a simple valvular 

 arrangement. 



713. G. officinalis L. (Kirchner, ' Beitr'age,' p. 42.) The flowers of this species 

 are arranged in erect racemes of considerable size. The calyx-tube is 2^ mm., 

 and the lamina of the vexillum 9 mm. in length. At the base of the latter there 

 is a bright median streak. The carina projects from the calyx as much as the 

 vexillum, but the alae are a little shorter. Each alar lamina possesses a posterior 

 process which is directed obliquely upwards and overlaps the staminal tube. In 

 front of this process there is a deep projection which fits into a corresponding fold 

 of the carina, and brings about a firm union. The stigma and anthers project 

 freely from the carina when the alae are depressed, resuming their position when 



