572 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. [N.S., XVIII, 
through field glasses. In all the bunches high up on the tree, 
examined through the glasses, it was found that only those 
buds which hang down have the styles protruding. Fig. 9 
shows the longitudinal section of a flower in the first stage 
when the anthers are ripe. In this stage when lightly tapped 
at night a shower of pollen is given off. In Fig. 8a, a flower is 
t. 
day or two after the pollen is shed the fleshy part of the 
corolla thickens. Fig. 11 gives a sketch of the flower in the 
second stage. Fig. 10 gives a section of the same showing the 
much enlarged and fleshy corolla. In this the second stage the 
corolla becomes much enlarged and quite fruit-like in its 
edibility, but the stamens which are situated on the corolla tube 
have shed all their pollen before the second stage is reached, otherwise 
the anthers containing the pollen would be devoured along with the 
fleshy corollas. As the corolla enlarges the style also grows and 
is found to be about half an inch longer than it was in the first 
stage. In this stage the stigma is mature and still sticky. 
The early stage of the flower is quite bud-like and it could 
easily be mistaken for a bud as it does not even open. ‘The 
to be damaged by bats. 
Pollination is effected by bats while eating the fleshy corolla 
of the older flowers which have shed their pollen. The bats 
may be seen hanging upside down scrambling about hooking 
their half-open wings on to the flower-bearing twigs. In search- 
ing for the fleshy corollas of the older flowers they wrap their 
wings round the whole bunch and while doing so their wings 
may be compared to inverted umbrellas held close under the 
bunch, forming a ready receptacle for the pollen which is shed 
by the movements of the bats among the flowers. Cross- 
pollination appears to take place at this stage. The bats 
get the under surface of their wings powdered with the pollen 
from the younger flowers which are not fleshy whilst eating the 
fleshy corollas of the older flowers and the sticky stigmas of the 
older flowers rub against the pollen dusted inner surface of the 
bats’ wings and get smeared with the pollen. os 
Most pendulous flowers have the loose pollen mechanism 
