FIGWORT FAMILY 203 



flowers are borne on leafy stems that reach a 

 height of from one to three and more feet. Each 

 flower is rather large and at first sight is sugges- 

 tive of a Closed Gentian slightly modified. Instead 

 of being vertical, however, it projects sideways 

 and has a distinct mouth which the worker bum- 

 ble-bees enter to reach the nectar at the bottom of 

 the corolla. By so doing they bring about the 

 cross-pollination of the plant. The bees often 

 have some difficulty in entering the blossom, as 

 you may readily see by a little watching. The 

 anthers mature before the stigmas and thus insure 

 cross-fertilization. 



The flowers are succeeded by interesting pods 

 which split apart to let the seeds fly out when 

 strong winds blow the upright stalks over far 

 enough. The seeds are flat and margined so that 

 they are easily carried by such winds. 



OBSERVATIONS FOR NOTEBOOK 



WOOD BETONY : 



(A) i. In what sorts of situations have you seen the 

 Wood Betony growing? 



2. What insects have you seen visiting the flow- 



ers? 



3. Do bumble-bees alight first upon the lower 



or the upper flowers of a given head? Do 

 they follow the spirals ? 



