n FUMARIACE^ 75 



and with the others form a tube which encloses the 

 stamens and pistil. They are, moreover, hinged near 

 the base (Fig. 44), and if an insect visits the flower it 

 is thus able to press down the middle petals and thus 

 dust itself with pollen, or deposit pollen on the stigma, 

 as the case may be. When the insect leaves, the petals 

 spring up again into 

 their former position. 

 The stamens are in 

 two groups of three. 

 The upper group send 



a glandular process ^^^^^^^^^^^^^P^^^^^^^'^^'^'^^^^X''"'^ 

 (Fig. 44) or nectary 

 into the pouch of the 



upper petal. i.ne Fig. a. — Fmnaria officinalis. Flower from 



OVarV contains two which the sepals have beeu removed ; the 



, •' , „ petals separated, exposing one of the staminal 



ovules, only one OI groups, which consists of a perfect anther (st), 



which forms a ^eed ^^^^ ^^^^ lateral half-anthers («). 7t, hinged 



__, . . " base of median petals ; «, nectary. 



ihis occurs m many 



other groups of plants ; perhaps it is an advantage in 

 lightening the fruit, and thus tending to promote dis- 

 persion. The flowers appear to be but little visited by 

 insects. Knuth characterises them as bee-flowers. Bees, 

 however, do not seem to take much notice of them. 

 Perhaps they are fertilised by night insects. 



The species of Fumaria belong mainly to the Medi- 

 terranean region. Our common form, which some 

 authorities break up into several species, is now spread 

 almost over the whole world. 



CORYDALIS 



0. claviculata. — A climbing plant, rising to a height 

 of several feet by the leaves, which end in branched 

 tendrils. Charles Darwin in Climbing Plants refers to 

 it as being exactly intermediate between a leaf-climber 

 and a tendril -bearer. The mechanism of the flower 

 resembles that of Fumaria. In C. claviculata, how- 

 ever, and some other species, the two small petals, when 

 once pressed down, do not spring back. The pistil is 



