Chap. IL OPHEYS MUSCIFEKA. 45 



CHAPTEK II. 



OPHKE^ — continued. 



Fly and Spider Ophrys — Bee Ophrys, apparently adapted for perpetual 

 eelf-fertilisatioQ, but with paradoxical contrivances for intercrossing 

 — Herminium monorehis, attachment of the pollinia to the front legs 

 of insects — Peristylus viridis, fertilisation indirectly effected by nectar 

 secreted from three parts of the labellum— Gymnadenia conopsea. 

 and other species — Habenaria or Platanthera chlorantha and 

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

 species of Habenada — Bonatea — Disa — Summary on the powers of 

 movement in the pollinia. 



The genus Ophrys differs from Orchis chiefly in 

 having separate pouch-formed rostella,* instead of 

 the two being confluent. 



In Ophrys muscifera, 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 robtella, but the inaccuracy projecting between the bases of 



m:'.y be forgiven from its conve- the anther-cells. This folded 



nience. 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 



aTid pistil ; so that in ( iphrys the two pouches in Opiirys, and owes 



two pouches, the two viscid discs, its protuberant and fohlcd condi- 



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



getlier form the true rosttllum. having been brouglit toirethtr and 



Again, iu Orchis I l.ave spoken of rendered confluent. Tliis modi- 



the pouch-formed organ as tlie tication will be more fully ex* 



rostellum, but strictly the rostel- plaineil in a future chapter, 

 tun includes the little crest or 



