Ohap. U. OPHKYS MUSOIFEBA. 4:5 



CHAPTEE II. 



OFiiUBJS— continued. 



Fly and Spider Ophrys — Bee Ophrys, apparently adapted for perpetual 

 self-fertilisation, but with paradoxical contrivances for intercrossing 

 ^4Ierminium monorchis, attachment of the pollinia to the front legs 

 of insects — Peristylusviridis, fertilisation indirectly effected by nectar 

 secreted from three parts of the labellum — Gynmadenia oonopsea, 

 and other species — Habenaria or Platanthera chloran&a and 

 bifolia, their pollinia attached to the eyes of Lepidoptera — Other 

 species of-Habenaria — Bonatea — Disa^-Summary on the powers of 

 EQOTement in the pollinia. 



The genus Ophrys differs from Orchis chiefly in 

 having separate pouch-formed rostella,* instead of 

 the two being confluent. 



In Ophrys muscifera, or ■ the. Fly Ophrys, the chief 

 peculiarity is that the caudicle of the poUinium 

 (B, fig. 5) is doubly bent. The nearly circular piece 

 of membrane, to the under side of which the ball of 

 viscid matter adheres, is of considerable size, and forms 

 the summit of the rostellum. It is thus freely exposed 



* It is not correct to speak of fold of membrane (see B in fig. 1) 



two rostella, but the inaccuracy projecting, •between the bases of 



may be forgiven from its conve- the anther-cells. This folded 



nience. The rostellum strictly is crest (sometimes, converted into a 



a single organ, formed by the solid ridge) oonesponds with the 



modification of the dorsal stigma smooth surface lying between the 



and pistil ; so that in Ophrys the two pouches in Ophrys, and owes 



two pouches, the two viscid discs, its protuberant and folded condi- 



and the space between them to- tion in Orchis to the two pouches 



gether form the true rostellum. ■ having been brought together and 



Again, in Orchis I have spoken of rendered confluent. This modi- 



the pouch-formed organ as the ficatioa will be more fully ex- 



rostellum, but strictly the rostel- plained in a future chapter, 

 lum includes tlie little crest or 



