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Show 314 DARWINISM CHAP. Fro. 30.-0rchis pyramidalis. Dte:SCR!lYfll)N (lj." FlGUltE. ther I r . . rostellum \ l' • guid ing ridges on lahellum. a · · · :~igma· l • • Jabellum or lip. n . nectary. As,sFr~nt.vi~w with ~11 the sepals and petals removed, except the labcllum . he flowpr B: Side view, ~vith all the sepnls and prtals removed .. anrl tl~o upper part of lbisccted. c. The two pollinia attached to the sarld ~ e·shupeu vrsc1u dtsc. D. The disc after the llrst act of contraction: E. The disc seen from above with oneyollr~mm rem~ved . F. The pollinia removed by the iu~ e rtJOu nl a 11 eerlle mto the nectary. G. The same pollinia after dcpressron has taken place. XI THE SPECIAL COLOURS OF PLANTS 315 ment which brings them down till they project straight forward nearly at right angles to their first position, so as exactly to hit against the stigmatic surfaces of the next flower visited on which they leave a portion of their pollen. The whole of these motions take about half a minute, and in that time the moth will usually have flown to another plant, and thus effect the most beneficial kind of cross-fertilisation.1 This description will be better understood by referring to the illustration opposite, from Darwin's Fertilisation of Orchids (Fig. 30). 1'he Inte1pretation of these Facts. Having thus briefly indicated the general character of the more complex adaptations for cross-fertilisation, the detail of which are to be found in any of the numerous works on the subject,2 we find ourselves confronted with the very puzzling question-Why were these innumerable highly complex adaptations produced, when the very same result may be effected-and often is effected-by extremely simple means 1 Supposing, as we must do, that all flowers were once of simple and regular forms, like a buttercup or a rose, how did such irregular and often complicated flowers as the papilionaceous or pea family, the labiates or sage family, and the infinitely varied and fantastic orchids ever come into existence 1 No cau~e has yet been suggested but the need of attracting insects to cross-fertilise them j yet the attractiveness of regular flowers with bright colours and an ample supply of nectar is equally great, and cross-fertilisation can be quite as effectively secured in these by any of the four simple methods already described. Before attempting to suggest a possible solution of this difficult problem, we have yet to pass in review a large body of curious adaptations connected with insect fertilisation, and will first call attention to that portion of the phenomena which throw some light upon the special colours of flowers in their relation to the variou kinds of insects which visit them. For these fact. we are largely in- 1 See Darwiu's Fertilisation of 01·chids for the many extraordinary and complex anangeme11t>; in these plants. 2 'l'he Engli~>h reader may consult Sir Jolm Lubbock's British TVild Flowers in Relcttion to Insects, and H. l\Iiiller's great and original work, 1'he Fertilisation of Flowers. |
