The Gross-Leaved Heath 



by the bee in what Maeterlinck calls its " Community 

 stomach," and it now backs out and passes on to 

 another flower. It has attained its end, the flower 

 has done the same, both are satisfied. 



As a point of minor interest, it may be noticed 

 that the pollen grains in the Heath are united 

 together in fours, known as tetrads. Kemer suggests 

 that after two days, whether the flower has been 

 fertilised or not, the stigma withers and can no 

 longer receive pollen ; the stamens begin quickly to 

 grow and push their anthers outside the flower. 

 Every movement of the wind now will cause the 

 pollen to fall, and the grains will be borne on the 

 wings of the wind to other expectant flowers. Thus 

 the plant makes a bid for the assistance of both 

 insects and wind. The day of the flower is now 

 over, but the pink corolla merely dries as it hangs, 

 retaining much of its colour. The fruit is a dry 

 little capsule containing several seeds, which even- 

 tually escape by four openings that appear in its 



walls. 



197 



