38 
few insects can be astir; and those we may assume will be 
humble-bees (in Lappmark Bombus lapponicus Fabr. and B. 
nivalis Dhlb.; Porrius). Also, the flowers are so well hidden by 
branches and leaves that they can scarcely be seen. Therefore, 
the visit of insects cannot be regarded as playing any pro- 
minent part in pollination. This may be correlated with the fact 
that the appendages of the anthers are so unusually small, or 
even entirely absent; they appear to be a diminishing structure 
on the point of becoming rudimentäry. The fact that the pores 
of the anthers are larger than in the other Ericaceæ also sug- 
gests self-pollination, for the pollen may be shed very easily 
(Fig. 24 F, G); even in quite young flowers I have found the anthers 
completely emptied of their contents, and pollen-grains occur in 
quantities all over the corolla, adhering to its hairs, which are 
denser than in A. Uva-ursi and reach as far as to the margin 
of the corolla (Fig. 24 B, D, K, L). The function of the hairs 
appears to be especially that of retaining the pollen-grains so 
that they may fall upon the stigma when opportunity offers. 
The narrowness of the throat is another contributory feature 
which tends to ensure self-pollination. I have hardly ever 
examined any open flower without finding pollen upon its stigma, 
and as a natural consequence of this, fruit is abundantly pro- 
duced. 
A, alpina appears therefore to be particularly adapted to 
self-pollination, while A. Uva-ursi — by the brighter colour and 
greater conspicuousness of its corolla, by the more scattered 
hairs in the interior of the same, and by the roughness and 
length of the appendages of its anthers — appears to be better 
adapted to cross-pollination by insects. 
The drupes are spherical, black, and about I cm. in dia- 
meter. In the north of Scandinavia they ripen as early as 
August. According to Hactunp and Exsram the seeds are dis- 
persed by frugivorous birds. 
