The Orchid of Nectar

This last orchid of the season bears flowers that, however insignificant in size, are marvelous pieces of mechanism to which such men as Charles Darwin and Asa Gray have devoted hours of study. Each polonium consists of two leaves of pollen, united for about half their length in the middle with elastic threads. The splitting of the rustellum never happens without insect aid, but if a bristle or needle be passed over it ever so lightly, a stream of sticky milky fluid exudes,. hardens, and the boat-shaped disc with pollen masses attached may be withdrawn on the bristle just as the bee removes them with her tongue.