i8o 



LADIES' SLIPPER. 



[CHAP. 



by a singular shield-like body. The opening into 

 the slipper is small, and partly closed by the stigma 

 and this shield-like body, which lies between the 

 other two anthers. The result is that the open- 

 ing into the slipper has a horseshoe-like form, and 

 that bees or other insects which have once en- 

 tered the slipper (Figs. 127-8) have some difficulty 

 in getting out again. While endeavouring to do 

 so they can hardly fail to come in contact with the 



KIG. 127. Flower of Cypripedium Ion- ' FIG. 128. Ditto. Seen from the side. 

 gifolium. Front view. 



stigma, which lies under the shield-like representa- 

 tive of the middle anther. As the margins of the 

 lip are inflected (Figs. 127-8^), the easiest exit is 

 at the two ends of the horseshoe, and by one 

 or other of these (Fig. 127 e) the insect generally 

 escapes, in doing which, however, it almost inevitably 

 comes in contact with, and carries off some of the 

 pollen, from the corresponding anther. The pollen 



