II LABIATE 339 



\Ylieii, however, a bee thrusts its head into the tube in 

 search of the honey, tliis part of the stamen is pushed 

 into the arch (Fig. 222, x), the connectives of the two 

 large stamens revolve on their axis, and consequently 

 the fertile anther cells [a') are brought down on to the 

 back of the bee, as shown in Fig. 225. 



In this country we have only two species of Salvia, 

 but the foreign species are numerous, and differ con- 

 siderably in their mechanism for fertilisation. For 

 instance, in S. verticillata ^ the arrangement is quite 

 different. The lower anther is rudimentary. The 

 connective does not move, but the hood is connected 

 with the tube of the corolla by a narrow part which 

 acts as a hinge. The flower is much smaller, and the 

 bee dusts itself with pollen by pressing back the 

 movable hood. In fact, in this species it is the hood 

 of the corolla, and not the anther, which is movable. 

 Connected with this change in the structure of the 

 stamen is an alteration in the position of the pistil. 

 If it occupied the usual position it would impede, if not 

 prevent, the raising of the hood. At first it lies close 

 to the lower lip, which it about equals in length. 

 Gradually, however, it elongates, projects beyond the 

 corolla, and generally raises itself a little, so that it can 

 scarcely fail to touch the head of the bee. Besides the 

 large complete flowers, some species have plants with 

 small female flowers. 



S. Verbenaca. — This is our common species. The 

 flowers are small. There are also cleistogamous flowers. 



S. pratensis. — A very rare British plant, found in 

 dry fields in a few of our southern counties. The 

 pericarp is thick, crustaceous, deep brown, not shining, 

 and the epidermis is rugulose. When placed in water 

 it emits long colourless filaments, which are at first 

 spirally coiled, but gradually open out. 



In S. Horminum these mucilaginous threads attain a 

 considerable relative length, and for some time wriggle 

 about like small worms. 



1 Hildebrand, Pringsh. Jahrh. vol. iv. (1865-66). 



