The Pyramid Orchis 



together. The hinder part of this carries the two- 

 celled anther, and in each of its cells is a pear-shaped 

 mass of pollen grains all united by thin elastic 

 strands. Each mass is known as a " pollinium/' 

 and it boasts of a slender stalk which is set in a 

 sticky disk. The two disks are joined together to 

 form a saddle-shaped object, which is enclosed in 

 an envelope called the " rostellum." We shall see 

 later that this is veritably a saddle, and that the 

 pollinia are the riders that use it. This rostellum 

 overhangs the forepart of the column, which divides 

 into two rose-red sticky stigmas or receptive organs. 

 When the flower opens, the rostellum is always 

 ruptured by some means or another, and hangs a 

 Uttle below the saddle, partly closing the mouth of 

 the ovary — " Like a trap placed in the run for 

 game," says Darwin. The shghtest touch, even a 

 hair pushed at it, is sufficient to depress it. The 

 ovary is very long and narrow, and has a curious 

 twist in it. It contains very many minute seeds. 



Now, watch a butterfly hover over a flower just 



63 



