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



seen on the flowers of this plant although it has been under 

 observation repeatedly 1 in many different parts of India; but 

 self- fertilisation is accomplished in the closing of the flowers at 

 nightfall. They set a full complement of seed. I found as 

 many as eighty capsules on a single plant, and an average of 

 44 per plant at Dalsing Sarai in Tirhut. The petals close on the 

 anthers between 6 and 9 p.m. ; and fall off at dawn on the 

 next day. 



Gynandropsis pentaphylla, DC, has been seen to be 

 visited by Xylocopa latipes for honey (Calcutta, 15-ix-01). 

 Early in the morning the stigma is thrust out of the closed petals 

 and so exposed before the anthers. Soon after this the petals 

 expand. Later the anthers come into contact with the stigma. 

 Monteiro says in his "Angola and the River Congo'' (London, 

 1875), ii, p. 205, that a Sphingid fertilizes this plant in Portu- 

 guese West Africa. 



Placourtia Eamontchi, L'Her., was seen to be visited by 

 Apis indica at Parsua in the Nepal terai (27-xi-07). 



Meloehia corehorifolia, Linn., has flowers which close 

 towards midday. A butterfly was seen to visit them (Bard wan, 

 September, 1903). 



Corchorus capsularis, Linn. To this plant visitors were 

 recorded in Note No. 2. Since that note was published Mr. R. S. 

 Finlow and I have observed A pis florea to be a most abundant 

 visitor for honey at Pusa and Dacca (vide Memoirs Department 

 of Agriculture, India, Botanical series, IV, 1912, p. 90). 



Tribulus terrestris, Linn., has flowers somewhat variable 

 in size, which open fairly early in the morning and may wither 

 at noon. Every flower sets fruit, probably by pollination in its 

 closing, for when they open the anthers and the stigma are 

 separated. Apis florea and a smaller Apiid, Lycaenids, a moth, 

 and Coccinellid beetle were seen in the flowers ( Myingyan, 

 14-U-04). 



Oxalis corniculata, Linn., has been seen visited by 

 Lycaenids and after their visits the stigmas were observed to be 

 pollinated (Calcutta, 22-iv-01). 



Glycosmis pentaphylla, Correa. The five petals arch over 



The villagers in Behar use the oil of Argemone mexicana consider- 

 ably picking the capsules with iron or wooden ton^s. They get their 

 supply of seeds from off the fallows, where the plant grows as a weed 

 treely. And if we could find a race with spineless capsules, I see no reason 

 why we should not make a cultivated plant of it. In the hope of find- 

 ing some sport promising the needed race, I have had Argemone much 



under observation : but I regret to sav that 1 have not found the desired 

 condition. 



