ERICACEAE 45 



In this species the entire plant possesses a strong aromatic odour. The white or 

 rose-red petals are expanded to form a flat surface. Nectar is secreted by a ten- 

 lobed swelling at the base of the ovary, and is easily accessible, although it is 

 protected by hairs situated above the bases of the stamens. Warming describes the 

 species as feebly protogynous in Greenland and Norway, though automatic self- 

 pollination appears to be effected in the bud. The anthers are borne on long 

 filaments, and are strongly exserted at a later stage. 



Unfortunately I did not carefully investigate the plants of this species I saw on 

 Wollin I., but have frequently watched for visitors there, and noticed a Muscid 

 (Sarcophaga carnaria L.). I have, however, examined the mechanism of specimens 

 growing in the Kiel Botanic Garden, and this is as follows. — 



The flowers are homogamous, but the stigmas are persistent, remaining receptive 

 after all the pollen has been shed. The diverging filaments are 6 mm. long, and the 

 stigma is placed about a mm. lower. Automatic self-pollination by the fall of pollen 

 is therefore possible in lateral flowers. 



Abromeit gives the following description of the var. /? deacmhens Ait., for West 

 Greenland (' Bot. Ergeb. von Drygalski's Gronlandsexped.,' pp. 58-9). — The inflo- 

 rescences are covered with woolly white or brown hairs, and bear 1 2-15 white flowers, 

 which differ essentially from those of Rhododendron in the absence of a corolla-tube, 

 and have pedicels as much as 14 mm. long. The petals are about 5 mm. long and 

 3 mm. broad. The ten long filaments are broadened at their bases, and pollen falls 

 very easily from the small white anthers upon the glutinous stigma which is placed at 

 a lower level. 



Visitors. — The following were recorded by the observers, and for the localities 

 stated.- - 



Warming (Jakobshavn) on the var. /3 decumhens, a butterfly (Argynnis chariclea 

 Schieid.). Knuth (Wollin I.), the Muscid Sarcophaga carnariaZ.: (Kiel Botanic Garden), 

 the hover-fly Syritta pipiens L., po-dvg., and only occasionally touching the stigma — 

 also in many flowers sticking to the style and ovary, 15-20 of these were often found 

 in the some 20 flowers of an umbel, adhering so closely that they could not be 

 separated without tearing ; they would almost seem to have been digested b}- the 

 plant, for their shape ultimately became unrecognizable, and only blackish chitinous 

 masses remained. 



1771. L. latifolium Jacq. ( = L. groenlandicum Relz.). (Warming, Bot. Tids., 

 Kjobenhavn, xv, i88g, pp. 39-44.) — This reputed species is perhaps only a variety 

 of L. palustre, and Warming says that its flower mechanism is the same, though 

 homogamy undoubtedly obtains. The anthers dehisce in the bud. Both self- and 

 cross-pollination are possible, and may be effected not only by insects, but also by 

 the wind, which is able to transfer pollen to the stigma of the same or adjacent flowers. 



528. Azalea L. 



Flowers protogynous, rose-red in colour, arranged in umbels containing only 

 a few blossoms ; exposed nectar, secreted by a ring at the base of the ovary. 



1772. A. procumbens L. ( = Loiseleuria procumbens Z^f j?'.). (Ricca, Atti Soc. 

 ital. sc. nat., IMilano, xiv, 1871 ; Kerner, 'Nat. Hist. PL,' Eng. Ed., i, II, p. 337 ; 



