i6o 



THE BOOK OF NATURE STUDY 



flower of the Daffodil to have the same number of parts but to 

 have an inferior ovary (cf. p. 106), and to have the other parts 

 peculiarly developed and united. The use of the arrangement 

 of the parts will be appreciated when the method of pollination 

 is considered. This is effected by insects, which visit the flower 

 for pollen or nectar. The nectar is secreted by three slit-like 

 glands which extend for some distance into the three partitions 

 of the ovary, and it accumulates in the basal region of the tube. 

 It is thus a long way from the opening of the corona. In the 

 middle of this the stigma stands ready to receive pollen, while 



the stamens around the style a 

 little farther back have opened 

 and are shedding their sticky 

 yellow pollen. An insect such 

 as the humble-bee coming in 

 search of nectar creeps into the 

 tube of the corona, rubbing its 

 back against the stigma and then 

 against the stamens. It will thus 

 be able to reach the nectar. On 

 going to another flower the pollen 

 on its back will be brought in 

 contact with the stigma. 



It is interesting to compare 

 the flower of the Pheasant's Eye 

 Narcissus (Narcissus poeticus) with 

 that of the Daffodil as regards 



its construction and mode of pollination. The parts of the 

 flower (Fig. 77) are as in the Daffodil, but the lowest region of 

 the tube is much longer and narrower, while the corona is short 

 and wide. The margin of the corona is reddish, while the 

 perianth segments diverge at right angles to the tube. The 

 flower has thus the appearance of a white target with a coloured 

 centre. It is probably pollinated by moths, and not by bees creep- 

 ing into the tube. These will be attracted as they fly in the 

 dusk, and with their long tongues will be able to reach the 

 nectar. In doing this they may convey pollen from the stamens 

 of one flower to the stigma of the next. Self-pollination may, 



FlG. 77. Flower of Pheasant's Eye Nar- 

 cissus cut in half. (After Baillon.) 



