Gentiana Ciliata. 95 



seen in Gentiana ciliata, Tellima grandifiora and 

 Ouphea platycentra ; and their action is precisely the 

 same ; that is, they in nowise absolutely exclude from 

 the nectar such insects as light upon the outer side 

 of the corolla, but merely serve as "path-pointers," 

 or as bridges which conduct the insect eventually 

 to a door of entrance, of which it cannot avail itself 

 without necessarily rubbing against the stigma and 

 the pollen.'' To describe these three flowers in detail, 

 and the manner in which insects visit them, would 

 be little more than to repeat what has already been 

 said. I may therefore content myself with referring 

 the reader to the plates, in which all three are repre- 

 sented (Plate II. fig. 64, Gentiana ciliata; Plate II. 

 fig. 75, T.ellima grandifiora; and Plate III. fig. 82, 

 Guphea platycentra). There is, however, one point 

 respecting Gentiana ciliata and Tellima grandifiora, 

 which should perhaps not be left unnoticed. If the 

 trelUs formed by the laciniate petals were not present 

 in these flowers, insects that alighted on the outside of 

 the perianth would be able to get at the nectar through 

 the open chinks between the contiguous petals, with- 

 out, of course, duly touching stigma or anther ; so 

 that it is a matter of great importance as regards the 

 protection of the nectar that these chinks shall be 

 closed by the fringed trellis-work. If the insects 



1 It need Lardly be mentioned that all these flowers are dicho- 

 gamous. 



