SECT. III. INDUCTION OF PARTICULAR PROOFS. 217 



in the intermediate stage only, when the pollen is 

 ripe. But the adaptation generally consists in the 

 stigmas being then moistened with an exuding and 

 viscous fluid ; except in the case of a hispid stigma 

 in which no such exudation is discoverable, as is 

 peculiarly well exemplified in the case of the 

 Amaryllis for mosissima. This beautiful flower, 

 which when fully expanded is pendulous, exhibits 

 the curious phenomenon of the exuding of a fine 

 and limpid fluid from the surface of the stigma 

 every morning, which augments as the day advances, 

 and forms about noon a drop so large that one 

 would think it in danger of falling to the ground. 

 It is re-absorbed, however, by the style about three 

 or four o'clock in the afternoon, and again pro- 

 truded about ten o'clock on the following morning. 

 This limpid drop, which is thus regularly exuded 

 and absorbed, is intended no doubt in the economy 

 of the flower to facilitate the process of impregna- 

 tion, by catching a portion of the pollen as it is dis- - 

 charged from the anther, and conducting it to the 

 ovary. It is at least certain that the pollen reaches 

 it, and is detained by it ; as a number of drenched 

 and disfigured particles may generally be seen ad- 

 hering to the surface of the stigma, after the drop 

 has been absorbed. Perhaps it may even have some 

 effect in forwarding the explosion of the pollen, 

 which is known to be also strongly effected by 

 moisture. 



As the stamens and pistils grow and come to 



