HABENARIA 45 



down pollen tubes freely into their substance, so that they 

 appear to act as stigmas, though the normal stigma is found 

 in its proper place and of ordinary appearance underneath 

 the discs." This real stigma does not seem as sticky as 

 these little clubs; but it does not seem possible that this 

 promiscuous and apparently careless breaking off of the 

 pollen masses and the sticky horns that are above the stigma 

 can have anything to do with the fertilisation of the plant, for 

 when the discs at the base of the stalks of the pollen masses 

 are touched the entire mass is removed and the stalks bend 

 down in the typical way under the weight of the masses. 



This orchid has the peculiar habit of being ready for its 

 visitors several days before the blossoms open. At least 

 four or five days before the folded petals part the pollen is 

 ripe and the anther cells are open, and there appears to be 

 danger of the pollen falling out. And yet in peering into the 

 flowers that are freshly opened, one sees that fragments 

 which fall from the pollen masses could not fall on the stig- 

 matic surfaces of the same flower, for the blossom when it 

 first opens is horizontal and any detached fragments would 

 fall on either side. It must then depend on insects as the 

 others do. 



10. TUBERCLED ORCHIS. SMALL PALE-GREEN ORCHIS 



Hahenaria flava (L.) A. Gray. (Plate XXI.) 



If the name Small Green Orchis serves to make a dis- 

 tinction in the mind between the other large green orchis. 



