LINNAEUS ^'j 



of generation; it is often defended by a calyx, and furnished with 

 petals, by means of which it in a manner flutters in the air. 



Many flowers have no calyx, as several of the lily tribe, the Hip- 

 puris, etc., many want the corolla, as grasses, and the plants called 

 apetalous ; but there are none more destitute of stamina and pistilla, 

 those important organs destined to the formation of fruit. We there- 

 fore infer from experience that the stamina are the male organs of 

 generation, and the pistilla of the female; and as many flowers are 

 furnished with both at once, it follows that such flowers are hermaph- 

 rodites. Nor is this so wonderful, as that there should be any 

 plants in which the diflferent sexes are distinct individuals ; for plants 

 being immovably fixed to one spot, cannot like animals, travel in search 

 of a mate. There exists, however, in some plants a real difference of 

 sex. From seeds of the same mother, some individuals shall be pro- 

 duced, whose flowers exhibit stamina without pistilla, and may there- 

 fore properly be called male; while the rest being furnished with 

 pistilla without stamina are therefore denominated females ; and so 

 uniformly does this take place, that no vegetable was ever found to 

 produce female flowers without flowers furnished with stamina being 

 produced, either on the same individual or on another plant of the 

 same species, and vice versa. 



As all seed vessels are destined to produce seeds, so are the stamina 

 to bear the pollen, or fecundating powder. All seeds contain within 

 their membranes a certain medullary substance, which swells when 

 dipped into warm water. All pollen, likewise, contains in its mem- 

 brane an elastic substance, which, although very subtle, and almost 

 invisible, by means of warm water often explodes with great vehe- 

 mence. While plants are in flower, the pollen falls from their antherae, 

 and is dispersed abroad, as seeds are dislodged from their situation 

 when the fruit is ripe. At the same time that the pollen is scattered, 

 the pistillum presents its stigma, which is then in its highest vigour, 

 and, for a portion of the day at least, is moistened with a fine dew. 

 The stamina either surround this stigma, or if the flowers are of i\\z 

 drooping kind, they are bent towards one side, so that the pollen 

 can easily find access to the stigma, where it not only adheres by 

 means of the dew of that part, but the moisture occasions its bursting, 

 by which means its contents are discharged. That issued from it 

 being mixed with the fluid of the stigma, is conveyed to rudiments of 



