I 9 4 THE BOOK OF NATURE STUDY 



which come in search of the nectar, secreted by the upper surface 

 of the ovary and protected in the centre of the flower. The 

 insect visitors on passing from flower to flower will tend to effect 

 cross-pollination, carrying pollen from flowers in the earlier 

 stage to flowers in which the stigmas are receptive. Should 

 cross-pollination fail, the stigmas, as the styles bend apart, may 

 come in contact with the stamens and so receive some pollen 

 from their own flower. 



The half-inferior ovary has two chambers, and in each a 

 large number of ovules are contained, borne on a swelling of 

 the partition. The pistil develops into a dry fruit, which splits 

 in the plane of the partition and liberates the small sculptured 

 seeds. 



The reproduction of Saxifraga granulata is not, however, 

 wholly dependent on the seeds. A number of individual plants 

 are usually found growing close together, and their origin will 

 be understood if we return to the small pink bodies at the base 

 of the main stem. Each of these is a small shoot, doubtless 

 formed in the axil of one of the lower leaves, and is specially 

 modified for reproducing the plant. It consists of a short stem 

 bearing closely crowded pink scales ; these are leaves modified 

 for the storage of food material. The little shoot thus resembles 

 a small bulb, and is called a bulbil (Fig. 89). When isolated 

 in the ground the bulbils grow further at the expense of the food 

 material stored in them. Each forms a stem bearing foliage- 

 leaves and flowers. At the base of a plant which has originated 

 in this way the remains of the bulbil will be found, and, as has 

 been seen, new bulbils will be developed on the lower part of the 

 shoot. The plant is probably reproduced in the same spot year 

 after year by means of the bulbils, though its spread to new 

 positions must be effected by means of the seeds. 



The London Pride (Saxifraga umbrosa) is familiar in all 

 gardens in town or country. It belongs to the same genus as 

 the White Meadow Saxifrage, and is found wild on the mountains 

 of the west of Ireland, where it flowers in June and July. Since 

 it is more easily obtained than Saxifraga granulata, attention will 

 be briefly directed to its chief features. 



The general appearance of the plant when in flower is repre- 



