96 



The Flora of Wiltshire. 



tion, serving to retain the pollen which is applied to the part, and 

 not thrown upon it by the starting up of the stamens, as is generally- 

 supposed. The motion of the stamens is not sufficiently powerful 

 to throw the pollen forwards, as the pollen instead of being a fine 

 dry powder, is in the barberry somewhat tenacious, and adheres to 

 the two lateral valves by which the anther opens. As the circum- 

 ference of the disk which terminates the pistil is, in the barberry, 

 the absorbing surface, it is obvious that the mere falling down of 

 the pollen from an anther, situated above it, would have been a 

 somewhat imperfect mode of arrangement, while it becomes neces- 

 sary that the pollen should rather be applied to the moistened mar- 

 gin from an extended surface. Hence the necessity for the lateral 

 valves, which completely effect this latter purpose : hence also the 

 necessity for the tenaceous pollen, the moveable stamens, the irrit- 

 able filaments, the nectariferous glands, the organization, and 

 instincts of the insect, by the co-operation of which all the appar- 

 ent disadvantages are fully compensated. In pursuing the study 

 of nature, we are constantly reminded that every event or action, 

 however trivial it may appear, is intimately connected with nume- 

 rous others, whose difficulties it serves to explain, and from whose 

 connection it derives additional importance. In the present instance 

 we see that the visit of the insect to the flower is not only necessary 

 for its own purposes, but likewise for those of the plant; whilst the 

 structure of the flower has especial reference to the instincts of the 

 insect, by which the proper performance of the functions of both 

 is ensured. 



ORDER. NYMPHiEACEiE. (DE CAND.) 

 Nymph^a (Linn.) Water Lily. 

 Linn. 01. xiii. Ord. i. 

 Name. (Gr.) Numphaia; from Numphe, a Water Nymph, so cal- 

 led from its inhabiting the waters, as the nymphs or naiads were 

 poetically supposed to do. 



1. "N. alba" (Linn.) Great White Water Lily. Water rose, 

 Water can, Oan dock. Engl. Bot. t. 160. Reich. Icones, vii. 67. 



Locality. In ponds and slow rivers, but oftener planted. Rare 

 in the county. P. Fl. June, July, August. Area. * 2. 3. 4. * 



