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136
My Studio Neighbors
·
W. Hamilton Gibson
110
The
throat
of
the
nectary,
thus
centrally
divided,
presents
two
small
lateral
openings,
each
of
which,
from
the
line
of
approach
through
the
much-narrowed
entrance
of
the
flower,
is
thus
brought
directly
beneath
the
waiting
disc
upon
the
same
side.
The
structure
is
easily
understood
from
the
two
diagrams
Figs.
12
and
13,
both
of
which
are
indexed.
The
viscid
pollen-gland
is
here
very
peculiarly
formed,
elongated
and
pointed
at
each
end,
and
it
is
not
until
we
witness
the
act
of
its
removal
on
the
tongue
of
the
butterfly
that
we
can
fully
appreciate
its
significance.
I
have
often
seen
butterflies
at
work
upon
this
orchid,
and
have
observed
their
tongues
generously
decorated
with
the
glands
and
remnants
of
the
pollen
masses.
The
series
of
diagrams
(Fig.
14)
will,
I
think,
fully
demonstrate
how
this
blossom
utilizes
the
butterfly.
At
A
we
see
the
insect
sipping,
its
tongue
now
in
contact
with
the
elongated
disc,
which
adheres
to
and
clasps
it.
The
withdrawal
of
the
tongue
(B)
removes
the
pollen
from
its
pouch.
At
C
it
is
seen
entirely
free
and
upright,
from
which
position
it
quickly
assumes
the
new
attitude
shown
at
D.
As
the
tongue
is
now
inserted
into
the
subsequent
blossom
this
pollen
mass
is
thrust
against
the
stigma
(E),
and
a
few
of
the
pollen
grains
are
thus
withheld
upon
its
viscid
surface
as
the
insect
departs
(F).
In
this
orchid
we
thus
find
a
distinct
adaptation
to
the
tongue
of
a
moth
or
butterfly.
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