FIGWORT FAMILY 203 
flowers are borne on leafy stems that reach a 
height of from one to three and more feet. Each 
flower is rather large and at first sight is sugges- 
tive of a Closed Gentian slightly modified. Instead 
of being vertical, however, it projects sideways 
and has a distinct mouth which the worker bum- 
ble-bees enter to reach the nectar at the bottom of 
the corolla. By so doing they bring about the 
cross-pollination of the plant. The bees often 
have some difficulty in entering the blossom, as 
you may readily see by a little watching. The 
anthers mature before the stigmas and thus insure 
cross-fertilization. 
The flowers are succeeded by interesting pods: 
which split apart to let the seeds fly out when 
strong winds blow the upright stalks over far 
enough. The seeds are flat and margined so that 
they are easily carried by such winds. 
OBSERVATIONS FOR NOTEBOOK 
Woop BEToNy: 
(A) 1. In what sorts of situations have you seen the 
Wood Betony growing? 
2. What insects have you seen visiting the flow- 
ers? 
3. Do bumble-bees alight first upon the lower 
or the upper flowers of a given head? “Do 
they follow the spirals? 
