122 THE AMERICAN MIDLAND NATURALIST 
pudica, depending on a season which extends over a period of 
from eight to eleven months, should have little chance to en- 
dure the severe changes of climatical conditions. The clayey 
instead of a sandy loam represents an additional protective 
factor against changes of meteorological conditions as it 
retains moisture more tenaciously. It is true, the amount of 
clayey deposits is too small to be effective under exposure but 
becomes so under the dense cover of leaves. While this cover 
is an essential factor to the general welfare of the plant it 
represents, on the other hand, an object of disadvantage in 
point of pollination, responsible for the fact that fruits are 
rarely produced. The pollen is shed in the bud upon the 
inner face of the corolla-lobes. Insects are attracted by the 
strong, not fragrant but aromatic odor. It strikingly re- 
sembles the odor of the Carophyllii aromatici (commonly 
known as cloves) and the oleum caryophyllorum (clove-oil) 
with a slight deviation in as much as it is not quite as pungent 
as that of the former, nor quite as mild as that of the latter. 
The spread of the odor is hardly perceptible except when the 
dense lower cover of leaves has become fissured and it is in 
this latter case that the strong insects are found actively 
engaged in forcing access to the hidden plant. 
As the extent of the plant’s season indicates, the plant is to 
pass the long period of the year above ground when temper- 
ature is low. The location of the station close to the 34° of 
latitude indicates that winters should not be considered severe 
in comparison to winters of more northern regions. On the 
other hand, the locality is freely. exposed, being sheltered in 
no way by a mountain barrier against the influx of air cur- 
rents. It may be said, in general, however, that if cold 
weather is continuous and lasting, night temperatures are 
rather even and the absolute minimum remains normally 
above 20 degrees. Otherwise it occasionally falls lower, even 
to 10 or still more rarely to 8 degrees. It has been proven 
during many years that all such temperatures are not harmful 
to the plant*under its protective cover. A few instances are 
known where the floor-cover of certain areas had been re- 
moved and where afterwards plants have been discovered 
which were exposed to severe temperatures, probably even 
