256 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. [N.S., XII, 



Commelyna benghalensis, Linn., as is well known, has 

 cleistogamic flowers underground. Its half horizontal above- 

 ground chasmogamic flowers carry one fertile stamen above the 

 centre of the flower in the middle line, and two stamens laterally 

 which face inwards and upwards. Some flowers are <$ only : in 

 the $ flower the stigma lies below the anthers, but is usually 

 obliquely directed, projecting 1"5 mm. beyond the lower 

 anthers, and 4 mm. from the unpaired upper anther (Calcutta, 

 —1901 ; Parlakimedi, Circars, ix-1903). 



The flowers of Commelyna Forskalii, Vahl, open at 7-30 

 a.m. (Sangli, near Miraj. 9-X-02). 



In Note No. 6, the constancy with which the spur of 

 Delphinium denudatum, Wall., is bitten through, was remarked. 

 Another opportunity of observing the flowers occurred at 

 Kasauli (9-v-ll); but though bitten spurs were again found, 

 the robber was not detected. 



The spur of Utricular ia Wallichiana, Wight, was observed 

 bitten through in the Dawna hills (4-iii-08). 



Various flowers with many stamens. 



The large pendulous flowers of Dillenia indica, Linn., open 

 in the night, apparently towards dawn, and last until the 

 afternoon of the same day, when the petals first fall and, later 

 at dusk, the calyx closes. Great numbers of Apis dorsata and 

 Apis florea go to the flowers to collect pollen, and on one 

 occasion a single individual of Xylocopa aestuans was seen first 

 to seek honey, and not finding any, to collect pollen. One fly 

 of the genus Calliphora was seen on the flowers (Calcutta, end 

 June, 1911). 



The flowers of Dillenia pulcherrima, Kurz, fall at midday. 

 Before that a Melapona visits them (Moulmein, 2-iii-02). 



On the rather smaller, but similar, flowers of the tea plant- 

 Camellia Thea, Link— a Hesperid moth was seen sucking 

 honey at Thansing, Nepal (ll-xii-07). 



Mesua ferrea, Linn., opens its flowers in the night. They 

 are very fragrant, and Apis indica is attracted to them in 

 considerable numbers (Moulmein and Korokpi, south of 

 Amherst, 2-ii-04 and 12-iii-08). 



Barringtonia pteroearpa, Kurz, opens its horizontal 

 flowers in the late afternoon, from which time they last only 

 until dawn. Honey is abundant, and no sooner are they open 

 than Melapona apicalis, Dall., commences to visit in large 

 numbers (Dawna hills near Kawkareik, Tenasserim, l-iii-02). 



