The Kansas University Science Bulletin (Vol. I, No. 1) — John Shaqi
The Kansas University Science Bulletin (Vol. I, No. 1)Various
Science
The Kansas University Science Bulletin (Vol. I, No. 1)
Various
Science -- Periodicals
Of course the statement of Professor Todd, that the next flower of
the opposite type which is visited by the bee is very apt to be on
another plant, loses entirely its significance, since it has been shown
that the flowers on a branch are not at all likely to be all right-
or left-handed. In visiting the flowers, the humblebees, as a general
rule, simply pass to the flower most conveniently at hand, and this
flower is very apt to be on the same plant, especially where the plants
are at all large. The humblebees especially work vigorously in the
early morning. In a patch of _S. rostratum_ examined between eight and
nine o’clock, in St. Joseph, Mo., nearly all the flowers had already
been visited. At this time fifteen specimens of humblebees were taken.
A great many flowers would be visited by the bee before it found one
which had not already been despoiled of its pollen. In visiting such
flowers, the bee would alight for a moment on the pistil and large
stamens, as described above, and then pass on to the next flower when
it had ascertained that there was no pollen present. In this way over
twenty flowers may be visited in a minute. It will be seen that, when
the bees are at all numerous and as well dusted with pollen as they
usually are, the pistil is almost certain to receive pollen, and
fertilization to be effected, especially if the pollen from the small
stamens is functional.
Among other insects found visiting the plant, the honey-bee was most
frequent.
As will be noticed from our list, some insects visit the plants
without effecting cross-pollination. Those insects which obtain pollen
in an illegitimate manner do not secure it from the small stamens
exclusively, but almost invariably visit the large stamen as well.
The adaptation of the plant to propagation by the production of seeds
is of considerable significance.[Q]
A normal plant will produce in the neighborhood of 7000 seeds. In
making observations on this point, it was found from five pods examined
there was an average of fifty-six seeds.
Pod 1 contained 66 seeds.
" 2 " 53 "
" 3 " 51 "
" 4 " 53 "
" 5 " 58 "
———
281 seeds; av., 56.
Pods 4 and 5 were from the same plant but separate racemes;
the others were from different plants. In determining the
average number of seeds produced by the plant, five plants
growing normally and in different localities were observed, with
the following results:
Plant 1 192 pods.
" 2 50 "
" 3 66 "
" 4 113 "
" 5 210 "
Taking the average of fifty-six seeds per pod obtained above, we see
that the plant producing 122.5 pods, the average from the preceding
table, would produce about 7000 seeds.
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