82 



REMARKABLE FLOWERS. 



[CHAP. 



petals and nectary being but in few places less than 

 a quarter of a inch thick, and in some places three- 

 quarters of an inch ; the substance of it was very 

 succulent. When I first saw it a swarm of flies was 

 hovering over the mouth of the nectary, and appa- 

 rently laying their eggs in the substance of it. It 

 had precisely the smell of tainted beef." The plant 

 for although it entirely lacks stems and leaves, it 

 is yet a complete plant is a parasite upon various 

 species of Cissus a kind of vine appearing upon 



FIG. 86. 



the stem and roots when the leaves and flowers of 

 the foster plant are withering. The unexpanded 

 buds of this plant are said to resemble large close 

 cabbages, and, when open, to give forth an odour of 

 carrion, which evidently attracts insects for the pur- 

 pose of fertilisation. This deception practised upon 

 insects by this evil odour is further assisted by the 

 petals being flesh-coloured. These petals are about 

 a foot long, and at some parts three-quarters of an 

 inch in thickness, whilst the central cavity of the 



