NEWS OF SPRING 



on an average, thirty seconds. We have seen that the packets 

 of pollen are carried on two short stalks inserted into the viscid 

 balls. Now at the point of insertion there is, under each stalk, 

 a small membranous disc, whose only function is, at the end 

 of thirty seconds, to contract and throw forward the stalks, 

 causing them to curve and describe an arc of ninety degrees. 

 This is the result of a fresh calculation, not of time, on this 

 occasion, but of space. The two horns of pollen that cap the 

 nuptial messenger are now horizontal and point in front of 

 her head, so that, when she enters the next flower, they will 

 just strike the two welded stigmata under the overhanging 

 stoup. 



This is not all and the genius of the Orchid has not yet 

 expended all its foresight. The stigma receiving the blow of 

 the packet of pollen is coated with a viscid substance. If this 

 substance were as powerfully adhesive as that contained in the 

 little stoup, the pollen-masses, after their stalks were broken, 

 would stick to it and remain fixed to it intact; and their destiny 

 would be ended. This must not be; it is important that the 

 chances of the pollen should not be exhausted in a single ven- 

 ture, but rather that they should be multiplied as far as pos- 

 sible. The flower that counts the seconds and measures the 



[ 70] 



