THE BARBERRY. 



177 



stamen with a flattened filament. The flowers 

 last only a short time, during which they are 

 showy, but emit a very unpleasant odour. Near 

 the base of each fila- 

 ment is a small spot, 

 which possesses a high 

 degree of irritability. 

 If this be touched by 

 any small body, while 

 the bloom is in perfec- 

 tion, the stamen sud- 

 denly bends forward 

 and closes on the pis- 

 til, and, if allowed to 

 remain for a few hours, 

 gradually returns to 

 its original position, 

 ready to perform the 

 same movement, when 

 again excited. It is a 

 well-known fact that 

 no flower will bear 

 fertile seeds unless 

 some portion of pollen 

 be lodged on the pis- 

 til, while the latter 

 is in its mature state. 



the flower is expanded, the anthers containing 

 the pollen are bent so far away from the stigma 

 or summit of the pistil, that they could scarcely 

 perform their office, were they not by some means 

 raised and brought forward, and that too in bright, 

 sunny weather. This is just the time when insects 

 are most busily occupied in exploring for food ; and 

 they, in their search after honey, visit the flowers 



FLOWERS AND FRUIT OF THE 

 BARBERRY. 



In the Barberry, when 



II. 



N 



