LEGUMINOSAE 



337 



795. L. vernus Bernh. ( = Orobus vernus L.). (Knuth, ' Bloemenbiol. Bij- 

 dragen.')— The flower mechanism of this species is almost exactly like that of 

 L. pratensis. The vexillar lamina is 12 mm. broad and 6 ram. long, and dark 

 purple-red in colour, with delicate darker markings. The vexillar claw is 10 mm. 

 long, white at the base, and almost enclosed by the calyx, like the remaining parts 

 of the flower. The exposed portions of the vexillum and carina are violet in colour, 

 while the parts enclosed by the vexillar claw and calyx are white. The union 

 between carina and alae is tolerably firm, but with care they can be separated 

 from one another without tearing. The style gradually tapers upwards; its brush 

 is 3 mm. long. 



The anterior parts of the petals become blue towards the end of anthesis. 



Visitors. — Schmiedeknecht mentions Bombus mastrucatus Gersl. 5 for 

 Thuringia, and Hoffer records it for Steiermark. 



I observed 3 humble-bees at Kiel (2. 5. '96). — i. Bombus hortorum L. 5, freq., 

 skg. legitimately, and diligently flying from flower to flower ; 2. B. lapidarius L. 5, 

 occasionally do. ; 3. B. terrester Z. 5, perforating the vexillar claw just between the 

 two upper calyx-teeth, and thus stealing nectar. Schulz also observed flowers 

 perforated by humble-bees. 



Loew, in the Berlin Botanic Garden, observed Bombus hortorum L. 5, skg., 

 and B. terrester L. 5, perforating the flowers ; also, on the var. flaccidus Ki/., Osmia 

 rufa Z. 5, skg. and po-cltg. 



796. L. Aphaca L. — The bright or dark yellow odourless flowers of this 

 species possess nectar-guides in the form of dark streaks on the vexillum. Kirchner 

 ('Flora v. Stuttgart,' p. 514) states that their mechanism agrees with that of L. 

 pratensis, except that the style enlarges but slightly and gradually towards its end. 



797. L. Nissolia L. — Kirchner ('Flora v. Stuttgart,' p. 515) says that the 

 rather small carmine-red flowers of this species frequently do not open at all, 

 but nevertheless set healthy fruits, being therefore cleistogamously fertilized. 



798. L. grandiflorus Sibth. et Sm. — This species is very rarely visited by 

 insects in England. The flowers are more fertile when shaken (Darwin, Ann. Mag. 

 Nat. Hist., London, Ser. 3, ii, 1858, p. 459). 



Visitors. — Loew observed a bee (Megachile fasciata Sm. 5), po-cltg. and skg., 

 in the Berlin Botanic Garden. • 



799. L. brachypterus Alef. — 



Visitors. — Loew observed the following bees in the Berlin Botanic Garden. — 



I. Bombus agrorum F. 5, skg. ; 2. B. lapidarius Z. 5, skg. and po-cltg.; 3. B. 

 terrester L. S, trying to perforate just above the calyx ; 4. Megachile centuncularis 

 Z. 5, skg. and po-cltg. ; 5. M. fasciata Sm. S and 5, in copula on the flowers, 

 the 5 previously skg. and po-cltg. 



800. L. cirrhosus Ser. — 



Visitors. — Loew observed the following bees in the Berlin Botanic Garden. — 

 I. Bombus agrorum F. 5, skg.; 2. B. hortorum Z. 5, skg. and po-cltg.; 3. B. 

 lapidarius Z. 5, do. ; 4. Eucera longicornis Z. 5, do. 



