The two that are left have a very
strange shape, for the stalk or filament of the stamen is very
short, while the anther, which is in most flowers two little bags
stuck together, has here grown out into a long thread, with a
little dust-bag at one end only. In 1, Fig. 60, you only see
one of these stems, because the flower is cut in half, but in the
whole flower, one stands on each side just within the lip. Now,
when the bee puts her head into the tube to reach the honey, she
passes right between these two swinging anthers, and knocking
against the end pushes it before her and so brings the dust-bag
plump down on her back, scattering the dust there! you can
easily try this by thrusting a pencil into any Salvia flower, and
you will see the anther fall.
You will notice that all this time the be does not touch the
sticky stigma which hangs high above her, but after the anthers
are empty and shrivelled the stalk of the stigma grows longer,
and it falls lower down. By-and-by another bee, having pollen on
her back, comes to look for honey, and as she goes into No.
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