Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-06-03

all growing on the same plant, they were de-
scribed as belonging to as many separate
genera The shapes are male. female and
hermaphrodite. When the plant has plenty of
food II produces spike of female or hermanb-
rodite flowers. which are thick and fieshy. re-
sembllng in shape an old-fashioned woman's
cap or sunbonnet These blooms REQUIRE a
special effort on the part of the plant 10 nro-
duce them. and they can only be satisfactorily
produced when the plant is in good condition.
During drought, when it is half starved, IL ia
unable to support such n strain. Accordingly
under such circumstances, it brings forth a few
lighter and more elegant male flowers
If one passes near one of these plants when
in flower a swarm of yellow and black humble
bees are seen lowering in its neighborhood,
though. except in this locality. not one of these
insects may perhaps be found in miles around
But when a 'scatasetum'' opens, wherever it
NAV be- the bees are sure to find It. Having
succeeded in attracting them from distance
in some unaccountable way the plant provides
feast for the bees in the shape of little reser-
voir OF nectar. To procure sip OF this the
insect has to bring its head into contact with
a sensitive "feeler" belonging to the hover
When the latter is touched the cover OF nttle
case filed with grains of pollen flies of and the
pollen grains spring out. They are sticky ana
adhere to the back of the bee. so as to be car
ried to another blossom. where they are
brought into contact with the stigma and Ter
tilzation results
Hanging from a creeper or branch may be
seen here and there an oval bag-like mass OF
aerial roots, above which are the bulbs ana
leaves of that wonderful orchid. the cory
anthes." After throwing out two or three
roots to attach itself to its support it develops
an interlacing network all around. At first
sight II would be hard to say what purpose
could be served by such a contrivance, but
strike or shake the plant and it will be seen
that ii is nothing less than veritable ants
nest The orchid is. like other plants, subject
to the attacks of many foes, such as cockroaches
and larvB, which are particularly fond OF the
aerial roots. To protect itself against these
the "coryanthes chooses to provide a comfort
able nest. wherein a garrison OF carnlyorous
ants finds shelter. In return for the accommo-
dation they are ready to come ont and fight at
the first alarm OF an enemy. There is another
kind of orchid. the "epidendron bicornutum,"
which adopts a like expedient for the sake of
protection. Being provided with long cylin-
drical bulbs 1t leaves these hollow and makes a
split in each one for about quarter Of on inch
at the base. In these well-protected homes the
ants live and thrive, and, in return for their
lodging, are terror to invaders.
MOST WONDERFUL FLOWER.
Having provided a guard against crawling
vermin, the coryanthes proceeds to develop a
most wonderful flower, which is designed to
attract one particular kind of insect-namely, O
beautiful metallic green bee. From the base
of one of its bulbs long flower stem is pro-
duced, which extends straight downward.
Upon this it hangs a number of beautiful cups,
into each of which liquid drips from two
horn-like processes In the upper part of the
flower. Take a china teacup with a spreading
mouth, hang some little flags over the handle
and stick model of fgurehead Of q Polyne-
sian canoe opposite and you have something
like one Of them. as il opens itself in the early
morning from a bud resembling the swatbing
Of Chinese lady's foot The odor of these
blossoms is not pleasant to human nostrils.
but it is very agreeable to the bees,
which Immediately on their opening swarm
around in great numbers. Flying to-
ward the flower. as q moth to a candle. the bee
falls into the liquid which covers the bottom,
and, wetting Its wings, is unable to use them.
Look into the cup and you will see a dozen bees
swimming round and round. or vainly trying TO
climb the slippery Sides Ii il is the second
day after opening, one or two may be seen
drowned. 1t never the intention of the
flower, however. that their lives should be
sacrificed, but, on the contrary that they should
escape. ana in doing perform the offics for
which the whole contrivance has been made.
Under the flags is narrow opening, through
which the bee can push its way out. In doing
it ruptures the pollen case and carries of some
of the pollen grains on Its back. Crawling over
the spike of blossoms the insect conveys the
pollen to the stigmas of other flowers of the
same plant, thus fertilizing them.