G. M. Thomson. — On the Fertilization of Flowering Plants. 245 



lack both scent and honey. Clematis fcetida is overpoweiingly fragrant, but 

 is not strikingly conspicuous and has no honey. Fuchsia excorticata and 

 Phoiinium tenax are only partially conspicuous (as far as colour is con- 

 cerned), have no scent, but produce great quantities of honey. Tupeia 

 antarctica is very fragrant, and produces a comparative abundance of honey, 

 but is extremely inconspicuous. Besides these three characteristics of 

 attraction, we may note that entomophilous plants usually have compara- 

 tively small stigmas, and produce relatively a small quantity of pollen, and 

 that both stigmas and anthers are so placed that it becomes difficult for 

 insects to enter the flower without coming into contact with one or other. 

 In some flowers there are also iiiitable organs, as in the lamellate stigmas 

 of Mimulus, the stamens of Berberis, etc. Very few such contrivances have, 

 however, been noticed among our local flowers. 



Before leaving this part of the subject, it is interesting to note that 

 several species produce both entomophilous and also strictly self-fertilized 

 flowers. These latter are usually very inconspicuous (hence called cleisto- 

 gamic), and are produced after the ordinary conspicuous flowers. I have 

 already recorded theu* occurrence in the genus Viola,"^' and believe they also 

 occur in Hypericum japonicum. I have not investigated the subject, but I 

 think that all the winter-produced flowers of Trifolium minus, a very common 

 introduced plant, are cleistogamic. Flowers of this kind have been recorded 

 as occurring in the following genera, which are represented in New Zea- 

 land, though I have never found them in our species, viz. : — Oxalis, Drosera, 

 Campanula (Wahlenhergia), CusciUa, Thehjmitra, Juncus, and Danthonia. 

 Probably others have been recorded, which I have not noticed. 



Among anemophilous plants, the following characteristics usually pre- 

 vail : — (1) flowers usually inconspicuous and destitute of honey and 

 fragrance, these being of no use to them ; (2) the pollen usually light and 

 powdery, and produced in great quantity in anthers which are generally so 

 constructed as to be easily shaken ; and (3) the stigmas of comparatively 

 large size, greatly protruded and very papillose, — all characters favourable 

 to the dispersion of the pollen by wind, and its transportation to and 

 retention by the pistils. 



Having noted shortly the means of fertilization among flowering plants, 

 it may be asked, — How is the prevalent imperfection of our New Zealand 

 flowers to be accounted for ? That they are imperfect to a great degree (if 

 separation of the sexes constitutes imperfection) is a fact well-known to 

 botanists ; perhaps in no other part of the world is this found to such an 

 extent. Species, genera, and orders which are characterized by hermaph- 

 rodite flowers in other parts are frequently unisexual here. I am afraid 



* •' Trans. N.Z. Inst.," Vol. XL, p, 41o. 



