THE FUCHSIA FAMILY 293 



Mr. G. M. Tliomson was the first to show* that the New 

 Zealand fuchsias have several forms of flower in the one 

 species, but the late Mr. T. Kirk investigated the matter 

 more fully t. He showed that in each of the three New Zealand 

 species of Fuchsia tliere are three forms of flower, and in some 

 cases, also, intermediate forms. In every case, however, there 

 are eight stamens, and a single style with a glohose stigma. 

 The differences in the flowers of the various species may thus 

 be shortly summarized : — 



Fuchsia excorticata.—(l) Long-styled form. The style is 

 more than twice the length of the calyx-tube. The stamens 

 are almost without filaments, attached to the calyx-tube. 

 The pollen grams, if present, are yellow, and apparently 

 abortive. The flower is therefore a female one. 



(2) The mid-styled form. The style is about one and a half 

 times the lengtlr of the calyx-tube; the anthers have long 

 filaments, but are shorter than the style ; the pollen is well 

 developed, and of a deep mazarine blue. This flower is 

 hermaphrodite. 



(3) The short-styled form. The style is little, if any, longer 

 than the stamens, whicli are about the same length as in the 

 second form. The pollen is well developed. The flower is 

 hermaphrodite. 



Fuchsia Colensoi. — Only the long-styled and mid-styled 

 forms are known in this species, but Kirk " entertains no 

 doubt " of the existence of a short-styled form. 



Fuchsia jjrocumbens. — There is a long-, short-, and mid- 

 styled form ; but the stamens are of the same length in each 

 case. 



The exact significance of these forms is not well known, 

 and would form an interesting subject of investigation for 

 students. All the forms of F. excorticata are found in the 

 same district, but on different plants. The long-styled form is 

 obviously pollinated by the short and mid-styled forms ; and it 



*Tra.n,s. XIII., p. 26,3. (Trans. XXV., p. 261. 



