46 



OPHEE^. 



CnAP. n. 



to the air, instead of ly&ig almost hidden at the base of 

 the anther, as in Orchis, and thus kept damp. Never- 

 theless, when a poUinium is removed, the caudicle 

 bends downwards in the course of about six minutes, 

 and, therefore, at. an unusua,lly slow rate; the upper 



Fig. 5. 



Opheys musoifera, or Flt Ophrts. 



a. anther. s. stigma, 



r, r, rostella. . /. labellum', 



A. Flower viewed in front : the two 

 upper petals are almost cylin- 

 drical and hairy : the two ros- 

 tella stand a little in advance 



of the bases of the anther-cells ; 

 but this is not shown from the 

 foreshorteniqg of the drawing. 

 B. One of the two pollinia removed 

 from its anther-cell, and viewed 

 laterally. 



end still remaining curved. I foi-merly thought that 

 it was incapable of any movement, but have been con- 

 vinced by Mr. T. H. Farrer of my error. The ball of 

 viscid matter is bathed in fluid within the pouch formed 

 by the lower half of the rostelhun, and this is necessary, 



