14 
RHE. AUSTRALIAN. GARDENER. 
JuLy. 15, 1963. 
‘SCIENTIFIC. 
FLOW ERS. 
Py | 
FERT HLIZAT ION OF 
Be Sioa] 
Fic, ;2. 
The Primrose fiowers are in two forms— | 
one short-styled and the other long-styled. 
Supposing a bee gets dusted, by the pollen 
of a long-styled flower whose anthers are 
low down, when it visits another flower and ~ 
works in the same position the. short-style 
is exactly in the right position to brush off 
the pollen on to the stigma. Coming out 
of that flower again. the anthers (being 
near the top) load it again. with fresh mate-_ 
rial for seis flower. 
In the Geranium the anthers surround 
the stigma, which, however, is sealed up till 
later, and, after shedding their pollen, tie 
flat down on’ the‘ petals: out of the way. 
Now. the stigma, unfolds its sticky lobes, 
‘and whatever part | of the insect was in a 
position to receive ‘pollen: before now paris 
with it for the benefit of the stigma. 
FIG. 3:, 
In the Npstonatenrm the honey is ina feats 
spur. 
4 
tlie insect: Rien going | in. the: wrong way ; pip: 
is also guided by strong m markings. First, 
: “ against. 
Hairs on the corolla tube prevent x 
two anthers turn upwards and obstruct the 
entrance to the tube for the insect to dust 
after which the pistil, which was hidden 
away in the top of the tube, bends down, 
and is ready for the next visitor. 
"The Pea tribe are well worth. ‘studying. «5 
Tho flowers. are’ very irregular in shape, 
and. the petals are so balanced and inter- ~ 
locked that when a bee alights on the lower - 
one the anthers are suddenly shot out from 
their hiding place. In the Genista (or 
broom) quite -a’ violent expulsion takes 
place. In some cases the flower is so a’- 
ranged that the bee’ must enter: upside 
down—a favorite position with some bees. 
Fic 4. 
In the Chrysanthemum the anthers are 
at the top of the flower tubes; the unripe 
sbigma growing upwards acts like a piston, 
and sweeps all the pollen out, but not till 
later do its lobes expand ready for fertili- 
zation. 
Ise 
The Dandelion is said to have''no less 
than 93 seguir ppecics of EGS walling 
it. 
The Vailisneria (an aquatic plant) is 
peculiar. ~The female flowers float on the 
These having , “performed their ‘ 
duty: turn downwards: out of the way; two: 
more turn up; and so on for seven days, ° 
‘has become of very ‘peculiar’ shape; 
. necting: bar. ° 
bee. 
' - before it. 
top. of the water, Ane are attached to a 
long spiral stem, which lengthens: or shor- 
tens according to. varying depths of. water. 
Tha male «flowers are “stemless, | ‘They 
‘grow ‘at the’ base of the: plant until ripe, 
when: they ‘become detached, float onthe 
surface, and are blown’ into contact: with 
oe lgaciey of the: Aoauing flowers: 
; FIG..6: * ; 
pérwsis the most ingenious eramate rut 
is to be found in the Salvias. The anther 
“the 
two lobes have spread, forming a long con- 
Ata short distance from one 
end this bar is pivoted to the filament. 
The lower lobes of the anther are expanded 
somewhat, and completely block the en- 
trance to the corolla tube: A bee -thrust- 
ing its head in causes these arms to over- 
balance, and the anthers are brought down 
in contact with its. back. If it visits an- 
other flower which is more matured the 
long pistil is curved down ee égactly the 
position most suitable, for picking » ‘up the 
pollen on the bee's back. Any pollen pick- 
ed up by the head of the bee from tho 
lower lobes of the anther: would be wasted, 
so in course of time these obstructing lobes 
have become abortive, i.e., they. produce no 
pollen. Another peculiarity of: the Salvia 
is to be seen in the lower petal. on which 
the bee alights. It is strengthened by ribs 
or cords in order.to:carry the weight of the 
These.stiffeners are’ exactly in the 
right place, mechanically to take the strain. 
CG To be Continued. ie 
~enesseeseses = 
\ 
PRETTY VASES. 
In the centre of each vase here is a 
pink Begonia, then a row of. blue Lobelia, 
outside of all mixed Verbenas, which are 
simply a mass of color. In. front of the 
vases I have'a small piece of ground 12 ft. 
by 6 ft. full of mixed single Begonias with 
an edging of Lobelia. At the. back, near 
the vases, I have also a row of Farin sum- 
“mer Chrysanthemums which are full , of 
~ buds. ° 
‘The Begonias are a mags of bloom. 
I think the.Begonia hag a great: future 
It is so nice to take them + up 
in the autumn, store away for the winter, 
and start them againin the new. year. - 
—A’ SAiton! 
