40 
BULLETIN OF WISCONSIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. VOL. 5, NO. 1. 
six stamens are inserted above the middle of the tube. Their 
introrse anthers are directed inwardly and brought with their 
tips so close together as to form a cone in the mouth of the 
flower. An insect's probocis has free access to the flower through 
the six lateral spaces between the filaments and the tubes. On 
account of the length of the style (9 mm.) the capitate stigma 
with its numerous papillse protrudes into the cavity of the hollow 
cone formed by the anthers. As soon as the line of dehiscence 
which begins at the apex of the anther reaches the stigma spon- 
taneous self-pollination may take place. Before dehiscence has 
progressed so far an insect may effect self or cross-pollination by 
introducing its probocis through the middle of the flower and 
touching the stigma with pollen of the same or of another plant. 
The species of Salomonia (Polygonatuni) which have been 
examined so far are known to have homogamous flowers (19), 
but in 5". hiHora we are undoubtedly dealing w^th proterandry. 
While the stigma is receptive before the flower opens the anthers 
do not begin to dehisce until after the opening has taken place. 
This species differs in another respect from the species studied 
heretofore. In the latter nectar is secreted by the septal glands 
of the ovary, but in vS. hiflora it is produced in three spots on the 
inner surface of the perianth somewhat above the base. These 
three drops of nectar are visible from the outside through the 
transparent tube of the perianth, and they are situated on the dis- 
tinct lines that indicate the middle of the three inner perianth- 
segments. 
The opening of the flower takes place through the outward 
movement of the six tips (teeth) of the perianth-divisions, 
whereby those representing the inner row assume an erect posi- 
tion, while those of the outer row become reflexed. In the older 
(fertilized) flower these teeth move back to their original posi- 
tion and close the tube. The perianth gradually becomes yellow 
and withers. 
The following visitors have been noticed on the flowers : 
A. Hymenoptera 
Apidse: (i) Apis mellifera L. worker, s. ; (2) Bombiis con- 
similis Cr. female, s. and c. p. ; (3) B. virginicus Oliv., female, s. : 
(4) B. americanoriim Fabr., female, s. 
19. P. Knuth. Handb. d. Bluetenbiolog"ie, Vol. II, p. 507. 
