The record-union., 1897-03-28


opening when the flower first opens,
shedding their pollen. Then the second
set develop at the same time with the
stigma, SO, in case the flower should
have no insect visitants, the plant can
fertilize itself.
The bee, in visiting the snap dragon,
(antirrhinum majus), will thrust Its
head in and be busted by the stamens
with pollen and carry this to the stigma
of another flower whose stamens have
developed, shed their pollen, and lost
their functional powers.
In the Hawaiian Islands, where
pumpkins and other like plants have
been introduced, and where they have
no bees or other insects of that kind to
do all the flower fertilizing, it is done
by the natives. These plants We're
found to flower profusely, though
bearing no fruit, and when they finally
solved the mystery they found it ne
cessary to carry by hand the pollen
from one plant to the pistils of an
other.
The flowers of all the pumpkins are
Misunderstanding the stamens and
plStilS in distinct flowers, but both grow
ing upon the same individual plant;
they also bear perfect flowers containing
both organs. Nevertheless, the pistils
and stamens not developing at the same
time, it is impossible for the flowers to
fertiliZe themselves.
This same necessity for insect aid in
the fertilization of flowers is well
known in Australia with both the red
clover and the apple.
The red clover, when introduced into
Australia grew most luxuriantly, and
fiowered but produced no seed. The
reason for this was the absence of bum
blebees-the bumblebee being the one
that does the fertilizing, almost exclu-
sively, in the red clover. Bees were
introduced, and the clover seeded in
profusiOn consequently Exactly the
same was the case with the apple.
WORK OF HUMMING BIRDS.
The arrangement of stamens and pis-
tils in the trumpet creeper prevents
Standardization This is accom-
plished by moths of the humming- bird
type, also by humming birds them
selves
The common bind-weed of the fields
especially abundant along the New Jer-
sey coasts incapable of self -fertiliza-
ton, the stigma not expanding until
after it has arisen above the stamens
and the wind not availing to blow the
pollen aloft. These flowers are fertil-
lied almost exclusively by the bee
In the pink the stamens develop first
the stigma being inconspicuous. Af-
ter the stamens develop, become dried
up, and functionless, the stigma is ex-
erted ana expanded, exposing a large
stigmatic surface for fertilization
through insect agency
In nearly all flowers expanding about
evening time the color is white, or very
light-amOng them being a catchfly, a
member of the pink family, Gnsect fer
tilized) The light color in these night
boomers seems designed for insect at
traction. There are a number of the
same genius as the catch1y which
bloom in the daytime where the flowers
are red or pink, so as to attract the in
Sects. The first t-mentioned catchfiy is
fertilized by one of the night flying
moths: hence the whiteness of the pc
tails, to show distinctly at night.
The night blooming cereus owes it's
whitenesS to the necessity for insect
attraction, and, with the catchfiy, also
sheds its fragrance at night.
n number of flowers open during the
day, but shed their fragrance at night
only-preferring TO attract a night fly
ing moth or insect to which they are
best adapted for their fertilization.
Mirabilis Jalapa is one of the common
four o'clocks. The majority of these
flowers are white, though great many
OF them are of darker colors; for open
ing about sunset or little before, there
may yet be some of the day-fying in
sects which would fertilize them. The
Mirabilis Jalapa shows, by the long
tube Of its corolla, that it must be fer
tilted by a moth with long probos-
els. probably one of the night-hying
sphinxes.
As IN tie majority of the balance OF
the rose family, the pear has both sta
mems and pistils developed at the same
time; and while self fertilization is pos
sible on account of the recurving of
the pistils. yet it is not nearly as pro-
ductive of an abundance of fruit as in
the case where it is fertilized by an
insect.
PERFUME ATTRACTS INSECTS.
The secretion of honey, as well as the
perfume of the flower, is for the pur-
pose of insect attraction: and flowers
produce different kinds of perfumes
which are peculiarly adapted to the at
traction of certain kinds of insects
For purposes of insect attraction
plant life relies not alone on delicate
odors. In one of the species of arum
cultivated to some extent in green
houses with flower of deep maroon
color, the stamens and pistils are ar
ranged exactly as in jack-in-the pulpit
(stamens above and pistils below, and
when the plant has the pistils in the
receptive condition the spathe Ga foot
to eighteen inches long) will have
small drops of glutinous matter secret
ed all over the surface, and from the
plant is exhaled a most intensely dis
agreeable odor, like decaying animal
matter. This odor is peculiarly adapt
ed for the attraction of flies for flower
fertilization.
smilax 0he carrior flower) occur
ring in our woods, exhales, when in full
bloom, a most disagreeable odor.
Powers furnish many instances Of
organs developed apparently, merely
for the attraction of insects-these or
gans having no functional powers at
all. but being mere shams.
The little white parnassia, a saxifra-
gaceous plant, bears a white flower,
with ten stamens-fve of which are at
the base of the corolla and abortive.
having no anthers at ALL but the tips
OF their filaments are very bright look
ing exactly like so MANY drODS OF glu-