64 



POLYGALA. 



[chap. 



Milkwort {Polygala vulgaris), Fig. 59. The structure 

 of the flower is curious, and was first explained by 

 Hildebrand, whose account, however, does not seem 

 to me entirely complete or satisfactory. There are 

 five sepals (Figs. 60, 61 s s), of which three are small, 

 linear, and greenish ; the other two much larger, 

 coloured like the petals, and obovate or oblong. The 

 petals form a tube, to the inside of which the stamens 

 are attached in two bundles (Fig. 61 a), and which 

 contains a number of white hairs pointing downwards. 



Fig. 60. — Flower of Polygala vulgaris. 



Fig. 61. — Section of ditto. 



while near the upper end are two groups of finger- 

 like lobes. The pistil (Fig. 61 st) occupies the axis 

 of the flower, and ends in a spoon-shaped stigma. 

 Close behind the stigma is a projection which termi- 

 nates in a very viscid disk. When the proboscis of an 

 insect is forced down the tube in search of honey, it 

 comes in contact with this viscid disk, and being 

 thus rendered adhesive, when it is withdrawn carries 

 some of the pollen with it, and thus conveys it to 



