THE CRUKL PLANT. 



227 



Pei'haps the point and the jaws may be considered part of the anther, 

 covering two pollinia. The drawing presented will make the structure 

 clear to you. 



Fig. 6 ^^3.7 Fig 



Fig. 1. — Section through middle of flower ; imbricated passages at the base, around the 

 incipient seed-vessel. 



Fig. 2. — Plan — looking into the flower, showing the arrangement of the " jaws." Petals 

 removed. Enlarged two and a half diameters. 



Fig. 3. — The " jaws," showing their inclination. 



Fig. 4. — How the proboscis of a moth is caught and held. 



Figs. 5 and 6. — Escaped Pollinia, protruding from between the jaws. 



Figs. 7 and S. — The Pollinia, after removal of the jaws. The tip of the style is at a., Fig. 8. 



Now when the flower is immature, these jaws are soft, but as it 

 comes into full bloom, they harden and become woody. At this time 

 the proboscis of a moth, thrust towards the nectaries, .slides into the 

 little groove between the jaws, and when once inserted, is caught like 

 a boot in a boot-jack. The " Silver Y " tugs hard and long, but tugs 

 in vain, and in a few hours dies. 



You will at once perceive that a plant which catches a moth by the 

 proboscis and lets it dangle and dry up, is not insectivorous. It 



