70 OPHEE^. Chap. II. 



anther-cells are separated from each other by a wide 

 space of connective membrane, and the pollinia are 

 enclosed in a backward sloping position (fig. 11). The 

 viscid discs front each other, and stand in advance of 

 the stigmatic surface. In consequence of their forward 

 position, the caudicles and pollen-masses are much 

 elongated. Each viscid disc is circular, and, in the 

 early bud, consists of a mass of cells, of which the 

 exterior layers (answering to the lip or pouch in 

 Orchis) resolve themselves into adhesive matter. This 

 matter has the property of remaining adhesive for at 

 least twenty-four hours after the poUinium has been 

 removed from its cell. The disc, externally covered 

 with a thick layer of adhesive matter (see fig. C, 

 which stands so that the layer of viscid matter is below) 

 is produced on its opposite and embedded side into 

 a short drum-like pedicel. This pedicel is continuous 

 with the membranous portion of the disc and is formed 

 of the same tissue. The caudicle of the pollinium is 

 attached in a transverse direction to the embedded end 

 of the pedicel, and its extremity is prolonged, as a bent 

 rudimentary tail, just beyond the drum. The caudicle 

 is thus united to the viscid disc in a very different 

 manner, and in a plane at right angles, to what occurs 

 in the other British Orchids. In the short drum- 

 like pedicel, we have a small development of the long 

 pedicel of the rostellum, which is so conspicuous in 

 many Yandeae, and which connects the viscid disc with 

 the true caudicles of the pollinia. 



The drum-like pedicel is of the highest importance, 

 not only by rendering the viscid disc more prominent 

 and more likely to stick to the face of an insect whilst 

 inserting its proboscis into the nectary beneath the 

 stigma, but on account of its power of contraction. 

 The pollinia lie inclined backwards in their cells (see 



