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136
My Studio Neighbors
·
W. Hamilton Gibson
109
In
another
closely
allied
species,
however,
we
have
a
distinct
provision
which
insures
the
proper
approach
of
the
tongue--one
of
many
similar
devices
by
which
the
tongue
is
conducted
directly
to
one
or
the
other
of
the
pollen
discs.
This
is
the
Ragged
Orchid,
a
near
relative
of
the
foregoing,
H.
psycodes,
but
far
less
fortunate
in
its
attributes
of
beauty,
its
long
scattered
spike
of
greenish-white
flowers
being
so
inconspicuous
in
its
sedgy
haunt
as
often
to
conceal
the
fact
of
its
frequency.
Its
individual
flower
is
shown
enlarged
at
Fig.
12--the
lip
here
cut
with
a
lacerated
fringe
(H.
lacera).
The
pollen-pouches
approach
slightly
at
the
base,
directly
opposite
the
nectary,
where
the
two
viscid
pollen-glands
stand
on
guard.
Now
were
the
opening
of
the
nectary
at
this
point
unimpeded,
the
same
condition
would
exist
as
in
the
H.
psycodes--the
tongue
might
be
inserted
between
the
pollen
discs
and
withdrawn
without
touching
them.
But
here
comes
the
remarkable
and
very
exceptional
provision
to
make
this
contact
a
certainty--a
suggestive
structural
feature
of
this
flower
of
which
I
am
surprised
to
find
no
mention
either
in
our
botanies
or
in
the
literature
of
cross-fertilization,
so
far
as
I
am
familiar
with
its
bibliography.
Even
Dr.
Gray's
description
of
the
fertilization
device
of
this
species
makes
no
mention
of
this
singular
and
very
important
feature.
The
nectary
here,
instead
of
being
freely
open,
as
in
other
orchids
described,
is
abruptly
closed
at
the
central
portion
by
a
firm
protuberance
or
palate,
which
projects
downward
from
the
base
of
the
stigma,
and
closely
meets
the
lip
below.
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