422 BRITISH FLOWERING PLANTS chap. 



SiMETHIS 



S. bicolor. — The filaments of the stamens are very 

 woolly. It occurs in Britain only near Bournemouth, 

 and in a locality in Kerry, Ireland. 



Narthboium 



N. ossifragum (Bog Asphodel). — The stamens are 

 like those of Simethis. The flowers are homogamous, 

 and have a scent like that of Habenaria hifolia, but 

 no honey. They are, however, visited by insects 

 for the sake of the pollen. Possibly also the juicy 

 sap may be an inducement. The fruit is a narrow, 



oblong, glabrous, dark yellow 

 capsule, with 6 longitudinal 

 ridges separated by furrows. It 



Fig. 339.— Seed of JVarthecium °, • i i- i i 



ossifragum. s, body of seed ; coutams a number oi pale yel- 



I'av^'T'^'^'''^ ''^^™^''^^' ^°' -^^^ minute seeds (Fig. 339) 

 only about 1 mm. in length. 

 The testa, however, is prolonged at each end into a thin 

 thread {t t) 8-9 mm. long. 



Paris 



Protogynous flowers without honey. Perianth of 8 

 or sometimes 10 segments. Stamens as many. Styles 

 4 or sometimes 5. 



P. quadrifolia. — Leaves, generally 4, but sometimes 

 5, in a whorl. In the first case the parts of the flower 

 are in fours ; but when there are 5 leaves, the parts of 

 the flower are also in fives. Flies are supposed to be 

 attracted by the dull reddish colour of the ovary, which 

 looks not unlike a piece of decaying meat. Flowers 

 sometimes occur without stamens. They are said to be 

 very long-lived. 



Maianthemum 



M. Convallaria. — The flowers are protogynous and 

 sweet-scented. A very rare plant, found in woods in a 

 few counties. 



