THE FORMS OF FLORAL ORGANS, 115 



diately became reflexed, and the water commenced to drip. 

 Shortly afterwards the wings shrivelled up, and the flower 

 decayed in the same manner as it would have done a week 

 before if left to itself on the plant. 



" I will now give an example of deceiving a flower by 

 artificial means, by making it believe that its fertilisation 

 has been accomplished without its having taken place at all. 

 Miltonia Itusselliana carefully guards the approach to the 

 column by closing the petals over it ; but on pushing these 

 petals aside with a pencil, I always found that the labellum 

 faded, and withdrew upwards very soon afterwards. The 

 showy portion of the flower, evidently having had it con- 

 veyed to it that its duty was performed, then followed suit. 

 On carrying the deception still further to the reproductive 

 organs, by placing small pieces of grit on the stigma, I 

 found that the ovaries would swell in many cases, just as 

 though the flower had been properly fertilised by pollen. 

 This same result often takes place in Orchid flowers under 

 cultivation, and seed-vessels are obtained of full size, but, of 

 course, with no vitality in the grains within." 



As an analogous instance, I will add that it is the belief 

 of M 0. Beccai'i that ants are not only responsible for the 

 remarkable growths in Myrmecodia and HydtiopJiytum, etc., 

 but that they have become indispensable for the healthy 

 development of such plants. The investigations of M. Treub 

 on Bischidia, the pitchers of which are frequented by ants, 

 like the stipules of Acacia sphcerocephala, seem to justify one 

 in concluding that genus also to be one of these so-called 

 "Ant-plants " (Ann. du Jard. Bot. de Buitenzorg, in., p. 13). 



Dr. Lundstrom also believes that the habit of producing 

 " domatia " is now hereditary, without the actual presence of 

 the insects (see Journ. Boy. Micr. Soc. 1888, p. 87.) 



