CHAP. III. 



LINUM PERENNE. 



97 



expanded than that of L. grandiflorum, and the stigmas 

 of the long-styled form do not diverge greatly from 

 one another; nor do the stamens of either form. 

 Hence insects, especially rather small ones, will not 

 insert their proboscides between the stigmas of the 

 long-styled form, nor between the anthers of either 

 form (Fig. 5), but will strike against them, at nearly 

 right angles, with the backs of their head or thorax. 

 Now, in the long-styled flowers, if each stigma did 



Fig. 5. 



Long-styled form of L. PERENNE. var. Austriacum in its early condition 



before the stigmas have rotated. The petals and calyx have been 



removed on the near side.* 



not rotate on its axis, insects in visiting them would 

 strike their heads against the backs of the stigmas ; as 

 it is, they strike against that surface which is covered 



* I neglected to get drawings 

 made from fresh flowers of tlie two 

 forms. But Mr Fitch has made 

 the &bove sketch of a long-styled 

 flower from dried specimens and 



from published engravings. His 

 well-known skill ensures accurai-y 

 in the proportional size of the 

 parts. 



