316 BEES AND BEE-KEEPING. 



threads, which also tie each mass, at the end of a very 

 curious, stalk-like appendage (the caudicle, c), which 

 is again attached to a viscid piece of membrane (the 

 viscid disc, vd), having below it the viscid globe 

 {vg). The method of distributing the pollen will come 

 before us presently. The stigmatic faces are, theo- 

 retically, three, but only two are fertilised by pollen, 

 with the formation of pollen tubes, entering the ovary 

 in the usual manner ; their sticky faces are seen, side 

 view, at st, A ; in the front view, st, C. The third 

 stigma is modified into what is called the rostellum 

 (r, A), which contains the viscid matter of the discs 

 and globes just mentioned, playing a most whimsical 

 function, in order to secure crossing. The outer 

 portions of the flower consist, as in most orders, 

 of calyx and corolla, here divided into three sepals 

 and three petals respectively. All of the former, 

 and two of the latter, have been removed, to permit 

 of an uninterrupted view of the organs of reproduc- 

 tion. The third petal, properly the upper one, but 

 made the lower by a semi-twist of the ovary (pv, A), 

 is larger than the others, and offers a landing-place 

 to insects, as we see by the position the bee has 

 taken. It is called the lower lip, or labellum (/), and 

 is carried backwards in the form of a spur, where it 

 assumes the functions of a nectary (n), and so 

 attracts visitors. The anther cells are longitudinally 

 open in front, the fissures (/, /, C) of the covering 

 occurring before the flower opens, so that the pollinia 

 may be taken out from their pouches, in which they 

 lie, but to which they are not attached. The 

 membrane, forming the whole external surface of the 



