POISONOUS PLANTS OF BOMBAY. 611 



free ends of the petals fully fit into each other in a valvate manner. 

 So, at the utmost, the aestivation could be termed sub-valvate, meaning 

 that the petals are fitting closely to each other only at their margins ; 

 but, it must be understood that the petals are not on that account to 

 be considered as " imbricate." With regard to the nature of the 

 " staminal corona" and the pollen-masses, Professor Kerner Von 

 Marilaun has made very important remarks in his " Natural History of 

 Plants " (translated into English by Professor F. W. Oliver, Vol. II, 

 p. 258-259, 1895). They are well worth quoting here on account 

 of the accurate description they contain, and are as follows : — " Adnate 

 to each of the fiv9 sides of the staminal column is a tumid bilocular 

 anther with membranous wings running down its lateral margins. 

 The wings are not appressed to the column, but are reflexed and 

 stand out in pairs with the free margins of the two wings in each 

 pair converging towards one another. This produces the same effect 

 as if the anthers coating the central column were slit through 

 longitudinally in front of every corner of the pentagon. Owing to the 

 faGt that the swollen part of each anther bears a curious excavated 

 structure, it comes about that the pollen-producing portions of the 

 anthers are nowhere visible externally save the membranous wings, 

 or the five apparent slits." * * * " The hollow staminal append- 

 ages are full of honey, and each is embellished by a central process, 

 shaped like a horn." I may add that the horn resembles the incurved 

 horn of the Highland ram (K.R.K.). To continue the quotation, 

 " At the back of every one of the five slits is a little clip-like organ 

 from which proceed ligulate strands connecting it with the pol- 

 linia in the adjacent loculi of two different anthers, the pollen-mass 

 in the left loculus of the anther to the right of the slit being 

 thus associated with the pollen-mass in the right loculus of the 

 anther to the left of the slit. The abundant honey in the stami- 

 nal appendages emits a scent perceptible from afar, and attracts 

 numberless insects to the flowers. The honey, being stored in a 

 very superficial position, is accessible to insects with short pro- 

 bosces," such as bees, wasps, and sand wasps. Ants are also among 

 the commonest visitors to this plant in quest of honey. " During the 

 time when the honey is most abundant, the flowers are either nodding 

 or pendent, and they offer no convenient place for the insects to alight 

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