146 THE HUMAN SIDE OF PLANTS 
because of the resemblance of the long, tubular 
flowers to the bowl of a pipe, employs the same 
means for kidnapping as does its cousin, the 
clematitis. 'The bee enters the narrow opening to 
the flower, finds no obstruction to prevent his push- 
ing his way along the inward bending hairs, reaches 
and sips of the nectar, turns—and faces a phalanx 
of dagger-like points! While the flower holds him 
prisoner, he is not starved, for there is an abund- 
ance of nectar to last him the two or three days 
that he must remain until the tiny ovules have been 
fertilised, the pollen has ripened, and he has been 
well powdered with the golden dust that he is to 
carry to the next flower on his rounds. Then, and 
then only, the dagger-hairs wither and the bee is 
permitted to buzz his angry way out. 
The Milkweed family, which uses insects as its 
means of fertilisation, has an interesting method 
of catching and holding its guests. In certain spe- 
cies, like the wavy-leafed milkweed, this is done by 
means of adhesive glands. 
The moths and other insects which visit the 
Physianthus albens, a vine-like plant of New Zeal- 
and, are deliberately gripped by its deadly anthers 
which it uses as Jaws; and they are held fast until 
they have given their utmost aid toward the fer- 
tilisation of the flowers. 
