188 BRITISH FLOWERING PLANTS ohap. 



Warming, however, as stated by Knuth, found the 

 specimens examined by him to be weakly protogynous, 

 and Schulz found the flowers in mountainous regions 

 less protandrous than those of the lowlands. Kerner 

 also found those examined by him less protandrous 

 than those of Sprengel, and capable of self-fertilisation 

 in the absence of insect visits. 



E. parviflorum. — The stigmas are ripe when the 

 flower opens. Gradually the stamens elongate, and the 

 anthers open, so that self-fertilisation becomes possible. 

 The petals close up during the night, but open again the 

 following morning. Some of the anthers now project 

 beyond the stigma, and the pollen is 

 readily transported to other flowers. 

 While E. angustifolium has conspicu- 

 ous purplish -red flowers in long ter- 

 minal bunches or racemes, and is much 

 frequented by insects, this species (Fig. 

 133), on the contrary, has small soli- 

 tary flowers, and is seldom visited. 

 Now, to the former species the visits 

 Fig. ns. ~ EpUobium of insects are necessary, since the 

 iSigsfoot.™' ^"'"""" stamens ripen before the pistil, and 

 the flower has consequently lost the 

 power of self-fertilisation. In E. parviflorum, on the 

 contrary, the stamens and pistil come to maturity at 

 the same time, and the flower can therefore fertilise 

 itself. It is, however, no doubt sometimes crossed by 

 the agency of insects ; and, indeed, I am disposed to 

 believe that this is true of all the flowers which are 

 either coloured or sweet-scented. The plant is covered 

 with soft hairs. 



E. montanum. — According to Schulz the flowers of 

 this species and of E. roseum are homogamous. The 

 stem is glabrous, or bears small woolly hairs. 



E. hirsutum. — This species presents considerable difi"er- 

 ences according to locality. H. Mliller seems to have met 

 with homogamous flowers only 25-30 mm. in diameter. 

 Schulz describes three forms : — (l) Large flowers. These 



