ANATOMY OF THE TREK PRIMROSE. 



73 



however confused the general crystallization may have been, circumstances were such 

 a* to permit the production of distinct crystals of felspar." p 487. 



We may add that M. De La Beche writes with elegance and great 

 perspicuity ; and we are not therefore surprised that his book has been 

 translated into French and German, and republished in America. It 

 well deserves, indeed, to become the manual of every Geologist. 



ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY OF THE ANTHERS IN THE 

 TREE PRIMROSE ((Enothera biennis, LINN^US). 



BY E. G. BALLARD, ESQ. 



THE Tree Primrose, which is common in gardens, and from its 

 -blowing in the evening is also called the Evening Primrose, exhibits, in 

 the act of flowering, the following peculiarities: If carefully watched 

 about seven o'clock in the evening, the advanced flower-buds will be 

 seen to expand gradually, while the calyx swells and at length bursts 

 on both sides, opening from the bottom; and, when fully open, the 

 petals unfold themselves with a sudden spring, which reverts the calyx, 

 and at the same moment the anthers burst lengthways, discharging 

 their pollen upon the stigma. In order, it would appear, to prevent the 

 dispersion and loss of the pollen, it is moistened with a gelatinous 

 fluid, and adheres between the anthers and stigma by means of 

 tenacious films of this fluid. In the course of _the night these films 

 dry, and recede in the direction of the stigma, while the pollen is 

 absorbed. In this plant, I may mention, the anthers are ready to 

 burst as soon as the blossom expands. 



In consequence of having discovered this curious peculiarity, I pro- 

 ceeded to dissect an advanced flower-bud that would have opened in the 

 evening. I found the anthers already open and full of ripe pollen. 

 The structure of these, with their filaments, I carefully examined, and 

 made the accompanying figures of them while under the microscope. 



A- 



Fig. I. 



\ Fi; 



