03 



pollinated by hive bees and Sphingidfe. The Eucalyptus flower being of a shallow, open type, with much 

 nectar, it seems rather extraordinary that it should be pollinated by Sphinges. The lories, having a shoit 

 tongue, are certainly well adapted for the work, but I should have thought that slender-billed birds and 

 long-tongued moths would not be likely to pollinate the flowers. 



Nowadays, introduced hive-bees are usually the most conspicuous visitors, both to garden plants, 

 and, in localities not too remote from settlement, also to native plants, including Eucalypts, Banksias, 

 and Grevilleas. Bee-keepers are glad to have Eucalypt forest in proximity to their apiaries. In some 

 cases, doubtless, the hive-bees are instrumental in effecting pollination. But in others they merely deprive 

 the flower-frequenting birds of their birthright, without accomplishing anything for the benefit of the 

 plants. (Vol. xlii, p. 14, 1917.) 



The profession of pollinator seems in the main to'bc confined to a few families of birds. In America 

 the humming-birds (Trocfdlidae) and sugar-birds (Coerebidae) are chiefly concerned. In Hawaii the 

 Drepanididac (35 spp. in 17 genera) and Meliphagidae (5 spp. in 2 genera) are the agents. In Australia 

 we have Meliphagidae (72 spp. in 23 genera) and seven species of brush-tongued Lorikeets. Africa has 

 its Sunbirds (Cinnyridae) and Flower-peckers (Dicaeidae). In New Zealand are the Meliphagidae and a 

 few parrots. But there is no doubt that other birds at times pollinate flowers. Whether they visit the 

 flowers in search of insects or nectar is not quite apparent, (xli, 18, 1916.) 



A correspondent, Mr. S. T. Turner, in a letter mentions that at the time of writing parrots were 

 very busy biting off the opercula of Eucalypt-buds. (p. 26.) 



I have already alluded to the want of systematic observations on the method of pollination in 

 Acacia and Eucalyptus. It is a very lamentable thing that no one has taken these genera up. Here we 

 have two very large, and, from cither the scientific or the economic points of view, very important and 

 characteristic genera, and yet no one seems to have attempted to solve these important problems. 

 Certainly some observations have been made in America and South Africa, but it is obvious that these 

 arc of little value from an Australian point of view. The agents of pollination are not the same, though of 

 course we may get suggestive hints which will assist the locxl worker when he arrives. (ib., p. 21.) 



Now we come to some observations by a well-known Western Australian 

 worker : — 



Species of Eucalyptus come next on my list. Sepals and petals are discarded at anthesis in the 

 form of a calyptra (operculum) in this genus, and the open blossom is in some respects very simple in 

 structure. A ring of numerous thread-like stamens surrounds the top of the ovary, which is surmounted 

 by a slender terete style, whose apex is stigmatic. A few figures recently obtained from a flower of 

 Eucalyptus viacrocarpa Hook., will be much more effective than a long description in revealing the 

 character of the flowers. I estimated the number of stamens at 1,400. Their bases occupied a band 

 round the ovary top 2\ mm. wide, while their anther-bearing tops spread to a width of about 25 mm. The 

 middle circumference of the stamen ring taken over the anthers was 140 mm. The stigma was less than 

 a millimetre in diameter ! The area of the Y>o\\en-learing surface was therefore over 3,000 times the 

 area of the surface adapted for receiving pollen. In this estimate I have included the spaces between the 

 anthers; but even if that inclusion be disallowed, the ratio would still be enormously disproportionate- 

 What could be more eloquent of the low degree of specialisation of this flower? I have no positive 

 knowledge that birds are the chosen agents of pollination in this particular species, but I feel no doubt 

 whatever such is the case. While the above is perhaps an extreme case in all species of Eucalyptus, the 

 area of the pollen-bearing surface is enormously out of proportion to the area of the stigma, 

 which is always minute. This points, I think, to a pollinator of comioaratively large size. 

 The top of the ovary secretes nectar, often very copiously, so that it falls in drops from the 

 flowers. Birds seeking this nectar would certainly be liberally dusted with pollen, and could scarcely 

 fail to bring some of their pollen-bearing feathers into contact with the stigma. I have many times seen 

 small parakeets busy on the flowers of E. redunca Schau., and E. accedens W. V. Fitz. Once I observed 

 Zosterops youldi sipping nectar from the flowers of E. loxophleba Benth. The only species I have observed 

 at all closely is E. calophjlla R.Br. Its flowers are freely visited by insects seeking the very copious nectar 

 or pollen. Various honey-eating birds are also frequent visitors. The latter appear to be efficient 

 pollinators; but the insects seem useless. I have never seen one brush against a stigma, though I have 



