Chap IV. 



GOODYEEA EEPENS. 



105 



removed, and the fork-shaped supporting sides of the 

 rostellum were partially withered. Mr. E. B. Thomson 

 informs me that in the north of Scotland he saw many 

 humble-bees (Bombus p-atorum) visiting the flowers 

 with pollen-masses attached to their proboscides. 

 This species grows also in the United States ; and 

 Professor Asa Gray * confirms my account of its 

 structure and manner of fertilisatioB, which is likewise 

 applicable to another and very distinct species, namely, 

 Goodi/era jpuhescens. 



Goodyera is an interesting connecting link between 

 scA'eral very distinct forms. In no other member of 

 the Neotteoe observed by me is there so near an ap- 

 proach to the formation of a true caudicle ; t and it is 

 curious that in this genus alone the pollen-grains 

 cohere in large packets, as in the Ophrese. If the 

 nascent caudicles had been attached to the lower ends 

 of the pollinia, and they are attached a little beneath 

 their summits, the pollinia would have been almost 

 identical with those of a true Orchis. In the rostellum 

 being supported by sloping sides, which wither when 

 the viscid disc is removed, — in the existence of a 

 membranous cup or clinandrum between the stigma 



* 'Amor. Journal of Science, 

 vol. sxxiv. 1802, p. 427. I for- 

 merly iliought that with this plant 

 and Spirantlit'8, it was the label- 

 luin wiiich moved from the column 

 to allow of the more free entrance 

 of insects ; but Professor Gra)' is 

 convinced that it is the coliumi 

 which moves. 



t In a foreign species, Gooclijera 

 discolor, sent me hy Mr. Bateman, 

 the pollinia apjjroach in structure 

 still more closely tlio.se of the 

 Ophreaj : for the pollinia extend 

 into long caudicles, resembling in 

 form those of an Orchis. The 

 caudicle is here formed cf a 



bundle of elastic threads, with 

 very small and thin packets of 

 pollen-grains attached to them 

 and arranged like tiles one over 

 the other. The two caudicles are 

 united together near their bases, 

 where they are attached to a disc 

 of membrane lined with viscid 

 matter. From the small size and 

 extreme thinness of the basal 

 packets of pollen, and from the 

 strength of their attachment to 

 the threads, I believe that they 

 are in a functionless condition ; 

 if so, these prolongations of the 

 poUhda are true caudiclea. 



