152 THE AUSTRALIAN. NATURALIS!. 
FLOWERS OF HAEMODORUM, BLOOD ROOT. 
By Miss Acnres A. BREWSTER. 
In this seemingly insignificant “black” flower there are some 
very interesting points to be noted. There are 6 perianth seg- 
ments (3 sepals + 3 petals). There are 3 stamens, and each 
anther has 2 lobes; each lobe splits down the inner margin So 
that the pollen is shed on the inner side. The pollen ripens be- 
fore the stigma, and the anthers begin to dehisce before the 
flower opens. As the flower matures, the style elongates, carry- 
ing the stigma well above the pollen. Later the flower opens to 
a very limited extent, and this is due rather to the elongating 
and narrowing of the sepals and petals than to any unfolding of 
the flower. At this stage the style grows rapidly, carrying the 
stigma right up through the small open space above till it is 
quite outside the perianth and ready to be touched by visitors. 
I have not seen visitors on this flower, but the ovary bulges at 
the apex to form nectaries, and there is abundant nectar so that 
honey-lovers must be the visitors. The ovary is rather -interest- 
ing in that it seems to be half-way between the inferior and 
superior ovary. I would be glad if some members: living near 
the bushlands would watch for the visitors to this flower. 
EXCURSION TO MR. FINCKH’S AQUARIA. 
Saturday, April 10th, was a notable day to the large party of 
members and friends, who, by invitation of Mr. Finekh, visited 
his beautiful grounds at Mosman and inspected his very fine. 
aquaria. The grounds are laid out with a series of 22 ‘artificial 
ponds constructed of cement and sandstone, in which the fishes 
are kept in most comfortable natural surroundings, with a luxuri- 
ant growth of suitable aquatic plants. In various rooms and 
trellis houses are a large number of glass-box aquaria, contain- 
ing those fishes, ete., which are best suited for this method of 
housing and display. In these, amidst graceful water plants, 
the fishes live in the utmost comfort, free from the persecution of 
enemies, and well fed and tended by their kind-hearted owner. 
To many of the visitors the whole scene was a revelation. Mr. 
Finch demonstrated the feeding of his pets on grated raw meat 
and’ powdered dried Mexican shrimps, a proceeding which was 
watched with the greatest interest. Amongst the water-plants 
