JAN. 1907. 
WISCONSIN FLOWERS AND THEIR POLLINATION. 
37 
D Coleoptera 
Scarakieidse : (44) Trichhis piger Fabr. s. and f. p. 
Vagnera trifolia (L.) Morong-. Three-leaved Solomon's Seal. 
It is a common inhabitant of the same tamarack swamp at 
Elkhart Lake, Sheboygan Co., Wis., referred to above in con- 
nection with CUntonia borcalis, and it was observed on the same 
dates as the latter, viz: June 3 and 5. The average height of the 
plants is 15 cm., and the ten to fourteen flowers on slender pedicels 
are arranged in a loose raceme. As regards the structure of the 
flower and the relative position of perianth-segments, stamens 
and pistil to each other there is a striking similarity to the flower 
of F. sfellafa considered above, but that of V. trifolia is much 
smaller, measuring only 6 to 7 mm. across. All of the parts of 
the flower are white, except the anthers which are brown-violet. 
Nectar appears in droplets in the furrows along the ovary and this 
indicates the presence of septal glands. In view, of the more or 
less upright position of the flowers spontaneous self-pollination 
can hardly occur. Such a flower is proterogynous, but only for a 
short while, and consequently cross-pollination results from the 
early visits of insects while later on after the anthers have begun 
to empty their pollen either cross or self-pollination may be 
eft'ected by such visitors. Altogether these flowers do not seem 
to attract insects to any extent. They are sweet-scented, but 
the individual flower is inconspicuous and the same may be said of 
the few-flowered loose inflorescence as a whole. On the two dates 
mentioned above two beetles were the only insects seen on the 
flowers, but the time available for such observations was too 
short, and we might expect to find small bees and flies paying 
attention to them. The two beetles belonged to the following 
species : 
Coleoptera 
Elaterid^e : (i) Cardiophoriis convexulus Eec. ; (2) Blater 
rubricus Say — both s. 
UnifoHum Canadense (Desf.) Greene. Two-leaved Solomon's Seal. 
Flowering period from May 27 to June 21. There may be as 
many as 50 of the small white fragrant flowers forming a terminal 
raceme on a stem 10 to 18 cm. hiq-h. The flowers are borne by 
short (4 mni.) pedicels two of which originate from a common 
point of the stem. A short time after the opening of the flower 
