G. M. Thomson. — On the Fertilization of Floicering Plants. 267 



the other sex. I judge from the followuig considerations that they are wind- 

 fertilized : — viz., because they are produced in enormous numbers by each 

 tree, they are very small, green and inconspicuous, and are destitute of 

 either scent or honey. 



Corokia cotoneaster produces numbers of golden yellow, very conspicuous 

 flowers, which are all hermaphrodite. They are also very sweet-scented, 

 and the bright orange-coloured pistil is covered with a scale or fringe of 

 glandular hairs, which secrete a little honey. They are thus rendered very 

 attractive to insects, which must aid in their fertilization. 

 Nat. Ord. Loranthace^. 



The genus Loranthus has five species in New Zealand, which exhibit a 

 steady gradation in size and conspicuousness. Thus L. colensoi, which 

 occurs abundantly in the "West Taieri bush, where it is chiefly parasitic on 

 Fagus menziesii, has bunches of handsome scarlet flowers which are nearly 

 two inches long. These are pendulous, have no scent, and apparently no 

 honey. It is probable that this is developed at some time of their growth 

 however, and that it attracts tuis and honey-bu-ds. 



L. tet7'apetalus (which I have not seen), and L. tenuifiorus which occurs 

 at Queenstown and other localities in the Lake district, have flowers about 

 one inch long. 



In L.flavidus, which is a common parasite on Fagus solandri, the flowers 

 are tolerably conspicuous, yellow-colom-ed, and about half an inch long. 

 Lastly, in L. micranthvs they are minute and green. Though so inconspicu- 

 ous in this last species, they are fairly sweet-scented, and are probably 

 visited by small Diptera. All the flowers of this genus are hermaphrodite, 

 and probably more or less self-fertile ; the largest forms being most depen- 

 dent on external aid. 



Tupeia antarctica. This species, though like the last bearing incon- 

 spicuous flowers, is dioecious and entomophilous. The separation of the 

 sexes is complete. Both kinds of flower are very fragrant, and secrete 

 a relatively large amount of honey. They are much frequented by 

 numerous midge-like Diptera, which in sucking the nectar from the flat 

 discs bring the lower part of their bodies into contact with the stamens 

 or stigmas. 



The mode of fertilization in both our species of Viscum has not been 

 made out by me. In V. lindsayi, the flowers are whorled on minute 

 peduncles, while in F. salicornioides ' are solitary on the tips of the 

 joints of the branches. In both plants they are unisexual, and from the 

 fact of their being so inconspicuous I suppose they are wind-fertilized. I 

 have found them on a variety of shrubs, but always in comparatively open 

 parts, or on the outside edges of the bush. 



