On Flowers and Insects. 137 



IV. 



i. Fig. 37 represents a young flower of Sage, in 

 which the stamens (a a) are mature, but not the 

 pistil (/), which moreover, from its position, is un- 

 touched by bees visiting the flower, as shown in 



Fig- 37- SAGE (Salvia officinalis). Section of a young flower. 



fig. 38. The anthers, as they shed their pollen, 

 gradually shrivel up ; while, on the other hand, the 

 pistil increases in length and curves downwards, 

 until it assumes the position shown in fig. 39, sf, 

 where, as is evident, it must come in contact with 

 any bee visiting the flower, and would touch just 

 that part of the back on which pollen would be 

 deposited by a younger flower. In this manner 

 cross-fertilisation is effectually secured. 



2. There are, however, several other curious points 



