ON PLANT LIFE 133 



THE NOTTINGHAM CATCHFLY 



The Nottingham Catchfly (Silene nutans) 

 is a very interesting case. The flower is 

 adapted to be fertilised by Moths. Accord- 

 ingly it opens towards evening, and as is 

 generally the case with such flowers, is pale 

 in colour, and sweet-scented. There are two 

 sets of stamens, five in each set. The first 

 evening that the flower opens one set of sta- 

 mens ripen and expose their pollen. Towards 

 morning these wither away, the flower shrivels 

 up, ceases to emit scent, and looks as if it 

 were faded. So it remains all next day. 

 Towards evening it reopens, the second set of 

 stamens have their turn, and the flower again 

 becomes fragrant. By morning, however, the 

 second set of stamens have shrivelled, and the 

 flower is again asleep. Finally on the third 

 evening it re-opens for the last time, the long 

 spiral stigmas expand, and can hardly fail to 

 be fertilised with the pollen brought by Moths 

 from other flowers. 



