52 Flowers and their Unbidden Guests. 



L., on the contrary, has not only its peduncles, but 

 also its leaves, provided with glandular trichomes that 

 secrete an abundance of viscid matter. Similar to one 

 or other of the types of which the above are examples 

 are — Aguilegia, Dictamnus, AlUonia, Ledum, Cistm 

 populifolius and Gistus ladaniferus L., Listera ovata, 

 Aconitum paniculatum, and vulparia, Geranium silva- 

 ticum, Linum viscosum L., Euphrasia viscosa L., Puli- 

 caria viscosa (L.), and numerous Saxifrages, Labiates, 

 and Scrophulariacese. But more remarkable than all are 

 those Caryophyllaceous plants, in which the peduncles 

 are transformed into actual lime-twigs. The species 

 which might here be enumerated are to be counted by 

 hundreds, and I will therefore simply remind the reader 

 that not a few of the Caryophyllacese bear names which 

 at once indicate the viscidity of their peduncles and 

 stems, and point to the fact that small insects stick to 

 them. Such are Silene muscipula L., Silene viscosa Pers. 

 Silene viscosissima Ten., Lychnis viscaria L., Dianthus 

 viscidus B. Ch., Alsine viscosa Schreb., Holosteum gluti- 

 nosum F. et M., etc. etc. 



If, experimentally, small insects are placed upon 

 the viscid axis, it wUl be seen that, however slight the 

 contact may be, the tenacious substance immediately 

 adheres to them, and is drawn out into threads by their 

 movements, especially by the raising up of their legs. 

 The insects try to rid themselves of the sticky stuff by 

 aid of the mouth. In so doing however they get their 



