Chap. IV. GOODYEEA EEPENS. 105 



removed, and the fork-shaped supporting sides of the 

 rostelliim were partially withered. Mr. E. B. Thomson 

 informs me that in the north of Scotland he saw many 

 humble-bees (Bombus pratorum) visiting the flowers* 

 with pollen-masses attached to their proboscides. 

 This species grows also in the United States; and 

 Professor Asa Gray* confirms my account of its 

 structure and manner of fertilisation, which is likewise 

 applicable to another and very distinct species, namely. 

 Goody era pubescens. 



Goodyera is an interesting connecting link between 

 several very distinct forms. In no other member of 

 the Neottese observed by me is there so near an ap- 

 proach to the formation of a true caudicle ; t and it is 

 curious that in this genus alone the pollen-grains 

 cohere • in large packets, as in the Ophrese. If the 

 nascent caudicles had been attached to the lower ends 

 of the pollinia, and they are attached a little beneath 

 their summits, the pollinia would have been almost 

 identical with those of a true Orchis. In the rostellum 

 being supported by sloping sides, which wither when 

 the viscid disc is removed, — in the existence of a 

 membranous cup or clinandrum between the stigma 



* 'Amer. Journal of Science,' bundle of elastic threads, with 



vol. xxxiv. 1862, p. 427. I for- very small and thin packets of 



merly thought that with this plant pollen-grains attached to them 



and Spiranthes, it was the label- and ananged lilre tiles one over 



lum which moved from the column the other. The two caudieles are 



to allow of the more free entrance united togetlier near their bases, 



of insects ; but Professor Gray is w here they are attached to a disc 



convinced that it is the column of membrane lined with viscid 



which moves. matter. From the small size and 



t In a foreign species, Goo(f//er(i extreme tliinness of the basal 



discolor, sent me by Mr. BatemiUi, packets of pollen, and from the 



the pollinia approach in structure strength of tlieu' attachment to 



still more closely those of tho the threads, I believe that they 



Ophrese ; for the pollinia extend are in a functionless condition ; 



into long caudicles, reserablins iu if so, these prolongations of the 



form those of an Orchis. Tho pollinia »re true caudicles. 

 uaudiole is here formed of a 



