242 The Botanical Gazette. [June, 
This ‘‘flower” had a good opportunity to fertilize itself if 
this had been possible. In the hope of getting it to seed the 
stigmas were hand pollinated after about the third day. But 
in vain. After about three weeks the ovaries had developed 
considerably and attained about half size. Then they stopped 
growing and the spadix began to shrivel. The spathe with- 
ered earlier. 
This result and experiments with several other plants con- 
vinced the writer that the flowers are proterogynous. Ex- 
amination showed that the stigmas were receptive of pollen 
about three days before the pollen of the same spadix begins 
to fall, and when the pollen appears the stigmas are muc 
shrunken. 
Four flowering plants were set aside, and with due precau- 
tions, left to fertilize themselves. Although the ovaries be- 
gan development they withered when about half grown. The 
“‘calla” is said rarely to produce seed in the green house. 
e now have in its proterogyny, the explanation. 
The spathe is a specialization looking to cross fertilization, 
although its convolute and funnel-like hase at first might seem 
nicely adapted for catching the pollen and bringing about self 
fertilization. It is likely this occurs, however, in Aracee just 
in proportion as the spathe is reduced and the individual 
flowers on the spadix become hermaphrodite and complete. 
In the Richardia there are on most of the older and large 
leaves two gland-like bodies at the summit of the petiole where 
the basal lobes of the lamina join the leaf stalk. They look 
as if they might be nectar glands; but they are probably merely 
thickenings to strengthen the blade against tearing, when a 
plants are growing in running water, and occasionally sud- 
merged, as is the case in their native land. 
: While engaged in these observations it occurred to 
investigate the manner in which the pollen is forced outt 
the minute pores. ; 
The anthers are almost sessile somewhat cuboidal wiper 
Wood's ‘Class book” gives them as two-celled, but the “al 
being bilocellate they may be called four-celled. The eS : 
are vertical, oblong, thin-walled, and confluent panne t 
single tube, terminating in a minute pore through whic 
pollen is pressed. : pout 
The discharge of the pollen was found to be brought pon 
by pressure caused by the gradual enlargement of the con 
me to 
hrough 
ata ae a 
