82 AEETHUSE^. Chap. HL 



from the antlier-cells, being tied to the edge of the 

 stigma and supported by the penetration of the pollen- 

 tubes. Without this support the pillars would soon fall 

 down. 



The flower stands upright, with the lower part of 

 the labellum turned up parallel to the column (fig. A). 

 The tips of the lateral petals never become separated ;* 

 so that the pillars of pollen are protected from the 

 wind, and as the flower stands upright they do not 

 fall down from their own weight. These are points of 

 much importance to the plant, as otherwise the pollen 

 would have been blown or fallen down and been 

 wasted. The labellum is formed of two portions ; when 

 the flower is mature, the small triangular distal portion 

 turns down at right angles to the basal portion ; and 

 thus offers a small landing-place for insects in front 

 of the triangular entrance, situated half-way up the 

 almost tubular flower. After a short time, as soon as 

 the flower is fully fertilised, the small distal portion 

 of the labellum rises up, shuts the triangular door, and 

 again perfectly encloses the organs of fructification. 



Although I have often searched for nectar within the 

 cup of the labellum, I have never found even a trace. 

 The terminal portion of the labellum is frosted with 

 globular papillae of an orange colour, and within the 

 cup there are several transversely wrinkled, longi- 

 tudinal ridges of a darker orange tint. These ridges 

 are often gnawed by some animal, and I have found 

 minute, bitten-off fragments lying within the base of the 

 cup. In the summer of 1862 the flowers were visited 

 less frequently by insects than is usual, as shown by 

 the unbroken state of the pollen-masses ; nevertheless. 



* Bauer fia;iire8 the flowers say is that I have not seen tliem 

 much more widely expander! than in this condition, 

 is here represented : all that I can 



