PASSION FLOWEES. 
163 
by pronouncing them to be as intermediate in their nature as 
they are in their position between the stamens and the petals. 
We are not sure, after all, that they are not right, as the organs 
in question seem to be neither hsh, flesh, fowl, nor good red- 
herring. What we know for certain about them is this, that 
they are not formed till long after the other parts of the flower 
are developed ; and this fact, with some people, is. taken as 
evidence that the organs in question are of little importance. 
They look upon such appendages ” as of no account, by reason 
of their late appearance ; but we believe this want of appre- 
ciation arises mainly from ignorance of the functions these cer- 
tainly very ornamental appendages are called on to perform. 
Their very structure should lead us to infer that they are of 
more importance than these gainsayers would admit ; for each 
tiny thread has its own separate cord of spiral vessels per- 
meating it, and we know pretty well that these vessels do 
not show themselves where they are not wanted; and, on 
the other* hand, they do manifest their presence wherever 
there is something going on. What office does the corona serve ? 
To this intensely practical question we return answer, that it 
materially aids in the process of fertilization. We say this in a 
general way, without pledging ourselves to the accuracy of all 
the details. But our opinion is formed from a consideration of 
these facts: — 1. That the nectary, or true honey-secreting sur- 
face, is below the corona. This is obvious anatomically and 
gustatorially. 2. That the anthers, when ripe, open in a direction 
downwards and outwards, away from the stigmas of their own 
flowers, and are above the corona (supposing the flower to be 
erect or nearly so). 3. That, when in this position, it frequently 
happens that pollen falls on the corona. 4. That there is reason to 
suppose that the perfume of the flower resides in the corona, as, 
when this is cut away, the flower becomes scentless ; at least so 
said the late Professor Morren. 
With these facts in his remembrance, let the observer watch a 
humble bee as he alights on a fully expanded Passion flower. 
Attracted, perhaps, by the perfume or the colour, one or both, the 
insect makes straight for the nectary and its honeyed treasures ; 
but to get at them he has to wriggle about amongst the rays 
of the corona, so as to get his proboscis down to the base of the 
flower. All this while his hairy back is just under the anthers, 
and it would be odd indeed if some of the pollen did not attach 
itself to his hair-shirt, and thus get conveyed to the stigma of 
some other flower. But, to make our case complete, it is also 
necessary to watch the movements of the styles. In the young 
state they are erect ; then they spread horizontally, or even 
become reflexed ; lastly, fertilization effected, or even if such 
process has not taken place, they again assume a vertical 
