ORCHIDS 



143 



rm 



droop, in anticipation of their work in the next 

 flower, and thus by actual experiment verify the 

 practicabihty of the mechanism and its successful 

 working. 



It is not necessary to point out that this mech- 

 anism precludes self-fertilisation and insures 

 cross-fertilisation. It is self-evident that the pollen 

 masses are drawn away from their own 

 stigma, and will, sooner or later, surely 

 come in contact w^ith the stigma of 

 another flower. Wherever we see the 

 stately Habenaria growing, we may 

 be sure that the cycle has bee«i com- 

 pleted, cross-fertilisation has been ac- 

 complished, and seeds have been formed. 

 But in the Habenaria ijsifcliodes, and 

 in all others of the orchids, we discover 

 such a nice adjustment of the flower to 

 its affinity in colour, depth of nectar- 

 well, position of pollen, and stigma, a 

 dependence so complete upon the in- 

 stincts and habits of certain insect 

 friends, that we are unable to frame any 

 theory which shall explain 

 how the complex arrange- 

 ment came to be, and can 

 merely marvel and admire. 



BROAD LEAVED HABENARIA 



