Chap. II. OPHRYS MUSCIFERA. 4? 



CHAPTEE II. 



OPHRE.E — continued. 



Fly and Spicier Ophrys — Bee Ophrys, apparently adapted for perpetiuil 

 self-fertilisation, but with paradoxical contrivances for intercrossing 

 — Herniinium monorchis, attacliment of the poUinia to the front legs 

 of insects — -Peristylus viridis, fertilisation indirectly effected by nectar 

 secreted froro three parts of the labellum— Gymnad^nia conopsea. 

 and other species — Habenaria or Platanthera chlorantha and 

 bifolia, their pullinia attached to the eyes of Lepidoptera — Other 

 species of Habenaria — Bonatea — Disa — Summary on the powers ot 

 movement in tlie pollinia. 



The genus Ophrys differs from Orchis chiefly in 

 having separate pouch-formed rostella,* instead of 

 the two being confluent. 



In Ophrys miiscifera, or the Fly Ophrys, the chief 

 peculiarity is that the caudicle of the pollinium 

 (B, fig. 5) is doubly bent. The nearly circular piece 

 of membrane, to the under side of which the ball of 

 viscid matter adheres, is of considerable size, and forms 

 the summit of the rostellum. It is thus freely exposed 



* It is not correct to speak of fold of membrane (see B in fig. 1) 



two rostella, but the inaccuracy projecting between the bases of 



muy be forgiven from its conve- the anther-cells. This folded 



iiience. The rostellum strictly is crest (sometimes converted into a 



a single organ, formed by the solid ridge) corresponds with the 



modification of the dorsal stigma smooth surface lying between the 



and pistil ; so that in (Jphrys the two pouches in Ophrys, and owes 



two pouches, the two viscid discs, its protuberaTit and folded condi- 



and the space between them to- tion in Orchis to the two pouches 



gether form the true rostellum. having been brouglit toii;cther and 



Again, in Orchis I have spoken of rendered confluent. Tiiis modi- 



the pouch-formed organ as the fication will be more fully ex- 



rostellum, but strictly the rostel- plained iw a future chapter, 

 lum includes the little crest or 



