78 WONDERS OF PLANT LIFE 



In considering the question of cross-fertilisation 

 by insect agency special attention must be directed 

 to the Orchids. If it can be contended that com- 

 plication of design is typical of a high order, then 

 we must place the flowers of these strange plants 

 in the forefront. The very formation of the 

 Orchid blossom is so intricate that it is not at 

 all an easy matter to distinguish the different 

 parts. 



In the typical Orchid flower we find three 

 fairly distinct sepals, although even here the two 

 lateral ones are sometimes joined together over 

 the interior part of the flower. The petals are 

 also three in number, one of which is frequently 

 much larger than the others, and forms a curious 

 pouch which projects well forward. Even the 

 essential organs have undergone some remarkable 

 modifications, so that it is quite impossible to 

 recognise any stamens as such, while the pollen is 

 produced in two bag-like contrivances which are 

 united to the stigma. As might be expected, the 

 means by which the cross-fertilisation of such a 

 complicated flower is carried out present many 

 points of interest. 



The story of the cross-fertilisation of the 

 Early Purple Orchis (Orchis mascula] is one of 

 the most fascinating in the world of plants. An 



