SECT. II 



PHANEROGAMIA 



497 



Old "World. A specially remarkable case of adaptation of this kind is afforded by 

 Strelitzia rcginae, which is often cultivated in greenhouses (Fig. 453). Its three 

 outer perianth segments {t) are of a bright orange colour ; the large aziu'e-blue 

 labelluni (p) corresponds to one of the inner perianth leave.s, while the other two {j}) 

 remain inconspicuous and roof over the passage leading to the nectary. The 

 stamens {st) and the style [g] lie in a groove, the margins of which readily 

 separate, formed by the labellum, while the stigma {q) projects freely. The similarly 

 coloured and showy bird [Ncctarinia afra) flies first to the stigma and touches it, 

 then secures pollen from the stamens Avhich it will deposit on the stigma of the 

 flower next visited. 



Fig. 452. — Flower of Yihcca filamentosa and the Pronv'ba-mot\\. (From Schijiper, Plant Geography.) 



The structure of the pendulous inflorescence of Margravia is just as remarkable 

 (Fig. 454) ; in this the bracts form receptacles containing the nectar. Numerous 

 insects fly around these nectaries, and the darting Humming-birds, either in pursuit 

 of the insects or themselves in search of nectar, get dusted with pollen from the 

 flowers, which face downwards, and carry it to other flowers. 



Besides these ouxithophilous plants there are a few visited by Bats 

 (CHiuoPTEROPHlLOUs) ; thus the dicecious Pandanaceous plant Freycinetia of 

 the Malayan Archipelago is pollinated by a Flying Fox {Pteropus), which eats the 

 inner bracts. 



Pollination in some cases is effected by means of snails (malacophilous 

 plants). To their instrumentality the flowers of Calla palustris, Chryso- 

 S'plenium, and also the half-buried flowers of the well-known Aspidistra owe their 

 pollination. 



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