. 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. and has barely thrust his head within its tube when down comes the pair of clappers on his back (C). Presently he backs out, bearing a orenerous dab of yellow pollen, which is further increased from each subsequent flower. He has now finished this cluster, and flies to the next, alighting as usual on the lower- most tier of bloom. In them the elongated stigma now hangs ^ directly
. 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. and has barely thrust his head within its tube when down comes the pair of clappers on his back (C). Presently he backs out, bearing a orenerous dab of yellow pollen, which is further increased from each subsequent flower. He has now finished this cluster, and flies to the next, alighting as usual on the lower- most tier of bloom. In them the elongated stigma now hangs ^ directly in his path, and comes in contact with the pollen on his back as the insect sips the nectar. Cross-fertilization is thus insured, and, moreover, cross-fertilization not only from a distinct flower, but from a separate cluster, or even a separate plant; for in these jolder stigmatic flowers the anther, as it comes down upon his back, is seen to be withered, hav- ing shed its pollen several days since, the supply of pollen on the bee's body being sufficient to fertilize all the stigmas in the cluster, until a new supply is obtained from the pollen-bearing blossoms above. And thus he continues his rounds. 93. 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
Size: 1708px × 1462px
Photo credit: © Library Book Collection / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookauthorgibsonwh, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookyear1901
