. Blossom hosts and insect guests; how the heath family, the bluets, the figworts, the orchids and similar wild flowers welcome the bee, the fly, the wasp, the moth and other faithful insects. Fertilization of plants. The Showv Orchid tender membrane, which ruptures and exposes the viscid glands of the pollen masses, which become instantly attached to the face or head, perhaps the eyes, of the burly visitor. As the insect retreats from the flower, one or both of the pollinia are withdrawn, as at B. Then immediately follows a downward movement, which exactly anticipates the position of the stig
. Blossom hosts and insect guests; how the heath family, the bluets, the figworts, the orchids and similar wild flowers welcome the bee, the fly, the wasp, the moth and other faithful insects. Fertilization of plants. The Showv Orchid tender membrane, which ruptures and exposes the viscid glands of the pollen masses, which become instantly attached to the face or head, perhaps the eyes, of the burly visitor. As the insect retreats from the flower, one or both of the pollinia are withdrawn, as at B. Then immediately follows a downward movement, which exactly anticipates the position of the stigma, and as the bee enters the next flower the pollen clubs are forced against it (C). In the case of a smaller bee visitinofthe flower, the insect would find it nec- essary to creep farther into the opening, and thus might bring its thorax against the pollen-glands. In either case the change of position in the pollinia would insure the same result. The entrance to the showy orchid's nectary is so formed as to insure the approach of the insect from the front—the only way in which the desired result can be accomplished. This direct approach, so necessary in many orchids, is insured by various devices—by the position of the lip upon which the 133. Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not perfectly resemble the original Gibson, W. Hamilton (William Hamilton), 1850-1896; Davie, Eleanor E. New York, Newson
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Keywords: ., bookauthorgibsonwh, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookyear1901
