G, M. Thomson. — On the Fertilization of Floweriny Plants. 251 



here they performed the work done by bees aud butterflies hi other 

 countries; but a short and suggestive letter by H. Mliller in "Nature" 

 (VoL XXI., p. 275) shows that among alpine (European) flowers generally 

 Diptera come next in importance to Lepidoptera as flower-visitants, while 

 among lowland flowers they are only exceeded by the Hymenoptera. In 

 the absence of any more definite information on the subject, I would only 

 advance it as a suggestion that here Diptera will be found to be by far the 

 most numerous class of flower- fertilizers. In concluding this introductory 

 portion of my paper, I would point out that my observations do not extend 

 to many of our purely mountain forms, among which are to be found some 

 of the finest flowers in New Zealand. 



I now give in detail the results of my investigations on a number of our 

 flowering plants. These deal chiefly with their mode of fertihzation, but 

 include some other points which have been noted as well. 

 Nat. Ord. Eanunculace^. 



Of this order only two genera are represented in this part of Otago, and 

 these by a few species. 



All the New Zealand species of Clematis are hermaphrodite or unisexual 

 in structure, but all are dioecious in function. The male flowers are fur- 

 nished with stamens only, without any trace of carpels, while the female 

 flowers have a row of stamens surrounding the mass of carpels, but these 

 have abortive anthers which never appear to produce pollen. 



Clematis inclivisa and hexasepala depend solely on the size and brilliancy 

 of their large white flowers, which are always displayed in most conspicuous 

 situations. They appear to be destitute of scent and honey, and though 

 apparently suited only for insect-fertilization, I have never seen them regu- 

 larly visited. As is usually the case in entomophilous dioecious plants, the 

 male flowers are larger and brighter than the female, which have more or 

 less of a greenish hue. While the former are usually two to three inches 

 in diameter, the latter seldom exceed one inch and a half. 



Clematis fceticla, grossly misnamed by Eaoul. This is a much lower- 

 growing, altogether humbler, plant than the first-named, and its flowers are 

 only a little over half an inch in diameter. They are greenish-yellow in 

 colour, and tolerably conspicuous fi-om their number; but their chief attrac- 

 tion lies in their overpoweringly strong perfume. I have never found honey 

 in them. 



Of the genus Ranunculus I have observed six species, viz., R. sinclairii, 

 R. ideheiiis, R. lappaceus, R. macrojnis, R. rivularis, and R. acaulis. These 

 species are all hermaphrodite, nor have I detected a trace of abortion 

 in their parts. All appear also to be more or less proterandi'ous, and 

 to be furnished with a scale-lilie nectary on the petals. This is better 



