CHAPTER XI 

 NECTARIES— POLLINATION 



NECTARIES. 



At the base of each petal of the Buttercup there is a small pit, 

 the lining of which pours out sugar, and is termed a nectary or 

 honey-gland. The petals of the Winter Aconite and Christmas 

 Rose assume the form of tubes, which likewise excrete sugar, 

 and are thus nectaries. The flower of the Monkshood (figs. 

 151, 152) has only two nectaries, which are attached by long 

 stalks and represent portions of two posterior petals (//), 

 which are concealed beneath the large blue cowl-like posterior 

 sepal. The two anterior stamens of the Violet or Pansy (fig. 

 158) send narrow band-like processes {ap) into the spur of the 

 anterior petal; on each of these processes is a spot which 

 denotes the location of the honey-gland. Thus, in the Pansy 

 or Violet, we can distinguish between the nectaries which are 

 portions of the stamens and make the honey, and the nectar- 

 receptacle which is the spur of the anterior petal and receives 

 the sugar manufactured by the nectaries. In the Marsh Mari- 

 gold, and in Arum, parts of the gyneecium act as honey-glands ; 

 whilst in the Mallow the five nectaries are on the five sepals 

 (fig. 161 «). In fact, sepals, petals, stamens, or carpels may be 

 partially or wholly modified to excrete sugar. In other cases, 

 however, the nectaries do not represent portions of the floral 

 leaves, but are parts of the receptacle. For instance, in the 

 flower of the Wallflower (figs. 88, 156 ri) there are two honey- 

 glands, each being in the form of a green ring-shaped out- 

 growth round the base of one of the short stamens ; the two 

 lateral saccate sepals act as honey-receptacles to receive the 

 sugar overflowing from the two nectaries which lie above them. 



POLLINATION. 



Under certain circumstances the ovules of a plant change into 

 seeds ; in fact, seeds cannot be formed excepting from ovules 



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