284 



BEES AND BEE-KEEPING. 



The order of development noticed in the blossoms 

 just passed in review is sometimes, though far less 

 commonly, reversed, as in the Scrophularia nodosa, 

 or knotted figwort, which, though a most uninviting 

 plant to the florist, has the charm of solid worth to 

 the bee-keeper, for, as nectar-producers, its blossoms, 

 in spite of their ugliness, are hardly to be excelled. 

 The plant is a strong grower, and loves moist situa- 

 tions, where it often attains 6ft. in height, and from 

 June to October bears, on its square stalks, repeatedly- 



Fig. 56.— Scrophularia nodosa (Knotted Figwort), Order Serophulariacece. 



A, Young Blossom— s, Stigma. B, Section of Blossom— ca, Calyx ; c, Corolla ; 

 aa, Aborted Anther ; a, Stigma ; I, Lip ; a, Anthers ; n, Nectar ; bl, Back Lip. 

 C, Older Blossom— s, Drooping Stigma ; a, Anthers. 



forked panicles of flowers. These are somewhat 

 globular, and very small, not generally exceeding the 

 size of a pea. Their colour is a dull purplish brown 

 on the upper petal, passing into a russet green 

 beneath. 



The flower is hermaphrodite, but, as before, the 

 two genders are never actively co-existent. In 

 this case the stigma is first mature, so that the 

 name proterogynous (meaning first female) is 



