My Studio NeighborsGibson, W. Hamilton (William Hamilton)
History
My Studio Neighbors
Gibson, W. Hamilton (William Hamilton)
Natural history; Natural history -- Outdoor books
In another allied example of the orchids--the Showy Orchid--we have,
however, what would appear a clear adaptation to the head of a bee,
though one which might also avail of the service of an occasional
butterfly. A group of this beautiful species is shown in my
illustration. A favored haunt is the dark damp woods, especially beneath
hemlocks, and with its deep pink hood and pure white lip is quite showy
enough to warrant its specific title, "spectabilis." An enlarged view of
the blossom is seen in Fig. 7, and in Fig. 8 a still greater enlargement
of the column.
[Illustration: Fig. 7]
[Illustration: Fig. 8 A, Pollinium. B, Webby connection between grains. C,
Stretched to four times its length.]
I have seen many specimens with the pollen masses withdrawn, and others
with their stigmas well covered with the grains. Though I have never
seen an insect at work upon it in its haunt, the whole form of the
opening of the flower would seem to imply a bee, particularly a
bumblebee. If we insert the point of a lead-pencil into this opening,
thus imitating the entrance of a bee, its bevelled surface comes in
contact with the viscid discs by the rupture of a veil of membrane,
which has hitherto protected them. The discs adhere to the pencil, and
are withdrawn upon it (Fig. 9). At first in upright position, they soon
assume the forward inclination, as previously described. The nectary is
about the length of a bumblebee's tongue, and is, moreover, so amply
expanded at the throat below the stigma as to comfortably admit its
wedge-shaped head. The three progressive diagrams (Fig. 10) indicate the
result in the event of such a visit.
The pollen discs are here very close together, and are protected within
a membraneous cup, in which they sit as in a socket. As the insect
inserts his head at the opening (A) it is brought against this 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one or both of the pollinia are withdrawn, as at B. Then immediately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), as in the previous example.
[Illustration: Fig. 9]
In the case of a smaller bee visiting the flower, the insect would find
it necessary to creep further 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.
[Illustration: Fig. 10 A B]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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