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136
My Studio Neighbors
·
W. Hamilton Gibson
124
With
this
more
intimate
knowledge
of
the
floral
anatomy,
let
us
now
visit
our
milkweed-plant
and
observe
closely.
A
bee
alights
upon
the
flower--the
object
of
its
visit
being,
of
course,
the
sweets
located
in
the
five
horn-shaped
nectaries.
In
order
to
reach
this
nectar
the
insect
must
hang
to
the
bulky
blossom.
Instantly,
and
almost
of
necessity,
it
would
seem,
one
or
more
of
the
feet
are
seen
to
enter
the
upper
opening
of
the
fissure,
and
during
the
insect's
movements
are
drawn
through
to
the
base.
The
foot
is
thus
conducted
directly
between
the
two
viscid
discs,
which
immediately
cling
closer
than
a
brother,
and
as
the
foot
is
finally
withdrawn,
the
pollen
is
pulled
from
its
cell.
The
member
now
released
seeks
a
fresh
hold,
and
the
same
result
follows,
the
leg
almost
inevitably
entering
the
fissure,
and
this
time
drawing
in
the
pollen
directly
against
the
sticky
stigmatic
surface
within.
The
five
honey-horns
have
now
been
drained,
and
as
our
bee
leaves
the
flower
he
is
plainly
detained
by
this
too
hearty
"shake"
or
"grip"
of
his
host,
and
quite
commonly
must
exert
a
slight
struggle
to
free
himself.
As
the
foot
is
thus
forcibly
torn
away,
the
pollen
mass
is
commonly
scraped
entirely
off
and
retained
within
the
fissure,
or
perhaps
parts
at
the
stalk,
leaving
the
terminal
disc
clinging
on
the
insect's
leg.
Occasionally,
when
more
than
one
leg
is
entangled,
the
dangling
blossom
is
tossed
and
swayed
for
several
seconds
by
the
vigorous
pulling
and
buzzing,
and
a
number
of
these
temporary
captives
upon
a
single
milkweed-plant
are
always
to
be
seen.
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