53 



ANGIOSPERMAEDICOTYLEDONES 





climbing shrub had been cultivated there, and grown very luxuriantly, the bloom 

 being remarkably fine during that year. I found very noticeable deviations from 

 the description of Hermann Miiller. 



The buds are vertical, and the anthers dehisce within them between 6 and 

 7 p.m.; the stigma becoming receptive at the same time. But automatic self- 

 pollination cannot take place, because the stigma projects 2 mm. beyond the longest 

 stamens. (Cf. Fig. 175, 1.) 



The first flowers open about 7 o'clock ; by 8 most of the flowers have already 

 closed. The lower lip of the corolla first separates from the upper one, then the 

 stamens successively protrude from under the latter, while the end of the style is 

 still held fast by its hood-like tip. More rarely the style protrudes before the 

 stamens. The flower now gradually sinks, passing from the vertical to the horizontal 

 position. This rotation through 90 is complete by the time the style and stamens 

 have escaped from the upper lip, and the former curves down between the stamens 

 till it rests on the horizontal or at first slighdy curved under-lip. 



Fig. 174. Loniura Caprifolium, L. (after Herm. Mailer). (i) Flower, natural size, seen 



from the side. (a) Ditto, seen from the front. The stigma projects beyond the anthers, and it 



therefore first touched by visitors, so that it receives pollen from other flowers. 



At the same time a strong odour is exhaled ; this is very faint during the 

 day. Hover-flies (Syrphus sp.) at once make their appearance, and settle on the 

 anthers to devour the pollen, though frequently they alight on the stigma, and must 

 therefore occasionally effect crossing. The versatile anthers are placed in front 

 of the entrance to the flower, with their dehisced sides facing upwards or outwards, 

 so that the pollen which covers them must be rubbed off by the under-surface of every 

 hawk-moth probing for nectar. This is secreted by the ovary and lodged in the 

 corolla-tube (about 25 mm. long), which at this stage is straight. The style projects 

 some 25 mm., but, as already described, is curved downwards to such an extent at this 

 stage that contact of hawk-moths with the stigma is impossible. (Cf. Fig. 175, 2.) 



On the following morning the flowers present quite a different appearance, 

 though they are still of a whitish colour. The anthers, if insect-visits have taken 

 place, are destitute of pollen, and the style has changed its position. It is moving 

 upwards, and now lies between or slightly below or above the stamens. This 

 upward movement is completed by the time new buds are opening, i.e. between 





