6 THE ORCHID REVIEW. [JANuary, 1923 
NOTES ON THE FERTILISATION OF. ORCHIDS. 
HE December issue of the Journal of Botany (vol. 1x., p. 359) contains 
‘* Notes on the Fertilisation of Orchids,” by Colonel M. J. Godfery, 
F.L.S. The author remarks that while it is comparatively easv to witness 
the visits of insects to spur-bearing Orchids, such as Orchis Morio and 
O. mascula, it is quite a different matter with spurless genera secreting no 
nectar, such as Ophrys and Cephalanthera. Regarding these plants without 
nectar, hundreds of flowering specimens may be watched year after year 
without once seeing an insect alight on them. Last May Colonel Godfery 
watched a colony of 74 spikes of Ophrys litigiosa for long periods on various 
days, but in vain. 
On one occasion in March, 1922, twenty spikes of Ophrys arachniti- 
formis were gathered near Hyéres, and an examination showed that every 
flower had been visited by an insect, except the top one in each spike; im 
most cases both pollinia had been removed, and there was also pollen on 
the stigma. Observations proved that this species is visited by at least two: 
species of bees, and is extremely well fertilised. ‘‘It presents a marked 
contrast to the numerous other species of Ophrys in the South of France, 
all my efforts to witness the fertilisation of which have so far been in vain.” 
Reference is also made to: Ophrys apifera. 
A colony of Orchis lactea was found near Hyéres growing in loose gritty 
soil consisting of disintegrated schistose rocks. ‘‘ On many of the plants,” 
remarks Colonel Godfery, ‘‘a small white crab-like spider was lying in wait 
amongst the flowers, its protective colouring rendering it inconspicuous. 
No bees were about, but it was a cloudy afternoon. I found on the ground, 
at the foot of a spike, a spider which had gripped a bee by the neck and had 
evidently fallen with its victim from the flower-spike. I put it in my 
vasculum, and on reaching home found that it still held the bee, many 
times larger than itself, in its jaws, always carrying it round to the opposite 
side of the spike to escape observation.” 
Of Cephalanthera rubra it is stated that on a very wet morning a bee 
came to some spikes of this species in a mixed bunch of flowers at the open 
window of a room, and so engrossed was he in the third flower visited that 
his capture was easily effected by means of a pill-box. Observations on 
C. grandiflora ‘‘afford fair proof that this species, in spite of its almost 
habitual self-fertilisation, is still occasionally, over a wide extent of its 
range, cross-fertilised by insects.” 
Limodorum abortivum, a leafless saprophyte nearly allied to Cephal- 
anthera, proved particularly wearisome to watch, as the bees were so wary 
that they disappeared at the slightest movement. It was necessary to 
stand in the hot sun with the net ready to strike. 
