v.] 



ERICA. 



opening. But though this opening is at the lower 

 end of the anther cells, the pollen cannot fall out, 

 because each cell, just where the opening is situated, 

 rests against the next anther cell, and the series of 

 anthers thus form a circle surrounding the pistil and 

 not far from the centre of the bell. Each anther 



FIG. 93. Flower of Erica tetralix. FIG 94. Stamen of ditto. 



cell also sends out a long process (pr, pr\ which thus 

 form a series of spokes, standing out from the 

 circle of anthers. Under these circumstances, a 

 bee endeavouring to suck the honey from the 

 nectary cannot fail firstly to bring its head in contact 

 with the viscid stigma (Fig. 93, st) and thus to deposit 

 upon it any pollen derived from a previous visit ; 

 and secondly, in thrusting its proboscis up the 



K 2 



