Elementary botany . Fig. 463- Kalmia latifolia, showing position of anthers before insect visits, and at the right thescattering of the pollen when disturbed by insects. Middle figure section of flower. 849. In some of the tropical orchids the pollinia are set free when the insecttouches a certain part of the flower, and are thrown in such a way that thedisk of the pollinium strikes the insects head and stands upright. By thetime the insect reaches another flower the pollinium has bent downward suffi- POLLINA TION. 445 ciently to strike against the stigma when the insect alights on the labellu
Elementary botany . Fig. 463- Kalmia latifolia, showing position of anthers before insect visits, and at the right thescattering of the pollen when disturbed by insects. Middle figure section of flower. 849. In some of the tropical orchids the pollinia are set free when the insecttouches a certain part of the flower, and are thrown in such a way that thedisk of the pollinium strikes the insects head and stands upright. By thetime the insect reaches another flower the pollinium has bent downward suffi- POLLINA TION. 445 ciently to strike against the stigma when the insect alights on the the mountains of North Carolina I have seen a beautiful little orchid, inwhich, if one touches a certain part ©f the flower with a lead-pencil or othersuitable object, the pollinium is set free suddenly, turns a complete somer-sault in the air, and lands with the disk sticking to the pencil. Many of the. Spray of leaves and flowersof cytisus. orchids grown in conservatories can be used to demonstrate some of thesepeculiar mechanisms. 860. Pollination of the canna.—In the study of some of the marvellousadaptations of flowers for cross pollination one is led to inquire if, after all,plants are not intelligent beings, instead of mere automatons which respond
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