THE FERTILISATION OF SALVIA AND OTHER FLOWERS. 27 1 
that in these mallows there are no nectaries. The visits of insects 
are not required by the plant, and so Nature, who, as Aristotle 
says, ovSsi^ ttoiei /jbdrrjv, economises the bait by which they might 
be attracted. A more convincing proof of the ultimate end 
and purpose of nectaries, cannot, I think be adduced.* 
Still more striking are the contrivances for ensurinor an in- 
tercross in the curious Lopezia racemosa. If a flower of this 
plant be examined, it will be seen that the two anterior petals 
are bent at a right angle, so that their terminal limbs form a 
convenient landing-place for flies or other insects. These are, 
moreover, attracted thither by the secretion of two little glands, 
which are placed on the upper surface of the petals just at the 
bend. In the centre of the flower rises a strange-looking ob- 
ject, which, on investigation, is found to be formed of two 
stamens, and a small intervening style. The stamen which is 
placed towards the glandular petals, has a polliniferous anther, 
the dehiscence of which faces these petals. The other stamen 
is transformed into a petaloid organ, and its upper extremity is 
shaped into a liftle hood, into which the anther of the first stamen 
is fitted, so as to be entirely out of sight. Between the two- 
stamens is a style, which is therefore also roofed over by the 
staminal hood. But when the flower first expands this style is 
very short, and its end does not nearly reach up into the hood, 
where the fertile anther is lodged. The style is indeed at this 
period quite immature, and the terminal stigma not developed, 
whereas the pollen is already ripe. 
If now the front part of the staminal hood be touched ever so 
lightly, it will be seen to start back, liberating, in so doing, the 
polliniferous stamen which it had hitherto held prisoner. This, 
when let go, springs slightly forwards, and by the jerk the 
pollen is shot out in the direction of the glandular petals. 
Some of it will be found to lodge on the glands themselves, and 
to be retained there by the viscid secretion. None can possibly 
fall on the stigma, for this lies behind the stamen, that is, on 
the side turned away from the dehiscence of the anther. Even 
if any accident did convey a little of the pollen to it, it would 
be of no use, for, as already mentioned, the stigma is at this: 
period quite immature. 
Now, when a fly or other such insect lodges on the glandular 
petals, it can scarcely fail to touch the front part of the hood. 
The pollen will then be shot out — will strike the fly on some 
part of its head or body. Here it will lodge, and the fly will 
* Tlie fact tliat nectaries are absent from these Malvaceae, in which the 
anthers and the stigmas ripen together, was observed by Vaiicher, to whom, 
however, the fact was without significance, as he had no notion of the real 
use of nectaries. 
VOL. VIII. — NO. XXXII. T 
