Sage Tea for the "Bees 



and has barely thrust his head within its tube when 

 down comes the pair of clappers on his back (C). 

 Presently he backs out, bearing a orenerous dab of 

 yellow pollen, which is further 

 increased from each subsequent 

 flower. He has now finished 

 this cluster, and flies to the next, 

 alighting as usual on the lower- 

 most tier of bloom. In them 

 the elongated stigma now hangs ^ 

 directly in his path, and comes in 

 contact with the pollen on his 

 back as the insect sips the nectar. 

 Cross-fertilization is thus insured, 

 and, moreover, cross-fertilization 

 not only from a distinct flower, 

 but from a separate cluster, or 

 even a separate plant ; for in 

 these jolder stigmatic flowers the 

 anther, as it comes down upon his 

 back, is seen to be withered, hav- 

 ing shed its pollen several days 

 since, the supply of pollen on the bee's body being 

 sufficient to fertilize all the stigmas in the cluster, until 

 a new supply is obtained from the pollen-bearing 

 blossoms above. And thus he continues his rounds. 



93 



Fig. 



