482 SEMI-CENTENNIAL OF TORREY BOTANICAL CLUB 
like a garden border, with the bright-flowered plants, I would see 
a black swallow-tail alight at the north end and flit, sipping rest- 
lessly, the whole length of the bed to the point where the camera 
was focussed on the nearest spike; then he would fly without 
stopping straight back to the north end, and repeat the perfor- 
mance, until, after three or four exposures in the same place, he 
was captured. Query, why did he always proceed in the same 
direction, never reversing? Perhaps for some reason he prefers 
to sip while flitting toward the sun. 
It appears, then, that the pickerel-weed is well supplied with 
а varied and constant procession of visitors, which must serve it 
effectively while supplying themselves with food. Although 
illegitimate pollinations may be frequent, at least some kind of 
cross-fertilization is undoubtedly the rule after these visits. 
Self-pollination, however, is probably possible; the little skippers 
might easily thrust some pollen from protruding anthers down to 
the stigma of the same flower, or might carry it from one flower 
to another of the same spike. But the question arises, would 
such pollination be effective, or are the plants self-sterile? Апа 
which of the legitimate crosses are most fruitful? For the purpose 
of obtaining some light on these points, plants were brought from 
the field and kept in pots placed in tubs of water in the greenhouse. 
Numerous crosses and self-pollinations were made, and many of 
the pistils so treated apparently set seed, but owing to various 
accidents not so many were brought to maturity. It can only be 
reported at present that a few mid-styled flowers matured ap- 
parently good seed when pollinated from their own long stamens, 
and also when pollinated from long stamens of other flowers on 
the same spike; owing to further accidents, no seeds were ger- 
minated. More definite results will be looked for from future 
experimental work. 
It is interesting to note that in his second paper* Fritz Miiller 
reported having found himself mistaken in his early assumption 
that Eichhornia crassipes is unfruitful with its own pollen, for 
although only one plant was introduced in his region, his nephews 
discovered seeds and young seedlings, and the barrenness had 
been due merely to the lack of proper insect visitors. 
* Kosmos I3: 297. 1883. 
