THE LESSER HUITEIULV OUCIIID 



139 



sation by means of insects. An insect seeking the 

 entrance to the spur is quite likely to detach one or 

 both of the club-shaped pollinia, which adhere to its 

 head by the viscid discs. Before the insect seeks 

 another flower, these structures, at first erect, bend 

 forwards, and so when the head of the insect is 



Fig. XII.— The PoUiniura of an Orchid as removed from tlie ilower, adhering 

 by the disc to the end of a needle. Much magnified. 



1. The position immediately after removal from the flower. 



2. The position assumed shortly afterwards. 



inserted into the spur of the next flower, the pollinia 

 come into contact with the stigma, to which they 

 adhere. Thus cross-fertilisation is effected. 



In the Lesser Butterfly Orchid the structure of the 

 anther and stylar column is relatively simple. The 

 club-shaped pollinia are naked, and not covered in as 

 in many other Orchids. They are therefore easily 

 seen. 



Another feature connnon to most Orchids is that 

 the ovary is twisted, and thus the wliole flower is 

 turned through a semicircle (LSO ), so that the 

 labellum, which is really the upper lip, comes to be 



