86 TYPICAL FLOWERS OF ALPINE PASTURES 



covered in by the ring of united anthers. The 

 anthers ripen before the ovary, and shed their pollen 

 on the inner side, on to the style, which in this region 

 is studded with little hairs, called collectively the 

 stylar brush, to which the pollen adheres. 



Fig. VIII. — The Stamens and Carpels of Scheuchzer's Bell-flower {Campa- 

 nula Scheuchzeriy Vill.)» illustrating the mechanism of the stylar brush. 

 Enlarged. 



a = anther ; /= filament ; s = style ; b = stigma. 



1. United anthers surrounding the style in the unopened flower. 



2. The anthers separating and curling backwards. 



3. The empty anthers coiled in tight spirals, the style, with the stylar brush, 



bearing pollen, and the three stigmas beginning to unfold. 



Let us now examine a flower which is just opening 

 (Text-fig. VIII., 2). We find the style has begun to 

 lengthen, and the anthers, having shed their pollen 

 on to the brush, are bending away from one another. 

 The separation and downward curvature of the 

 anthers occur suddenly, if the slightest touch is 

 given to the stamens when the flower is just opening. 

 Thus, if an insect visits the flower at this stage, it is 



