106 THE STAMEN. 
situated immediately within the corolla or perianth, being 
enclosed and protected by it when young. They vary in 
number in different flowers. In some there is only one— 
in others a hundred or more. 
Fig 33. 396. The stamen consists of two parts, the 
4 \G filament and the anther; the former support- 
ing the latter, which is the essential part. In 
Fig. 33, a is the filament, and b the anther of 
the Crocus ; and a very great number of plants 
have stamens of a similar structure. 
397. The filament is the long slender body 
forming the lower part of the stamen, and 
_ swelling out superiorly into the anther. It is 
called prominent, when it projects beyond the 
anther ; petaloid, when it is broad and thin 
like a petal. The filament contains a considerable quantity 
of spiral vessels. ! 
398. The filament and anther are connected in three dif 
ferent ways: 1. The anther adheres for a considerable part 
of its length by its back (dorsal surface) to the filament,—it 
is then termed adnate. 2. The anther is attached at its base 
to the extremity of the filament, appearing to be a prolonga- 
tion of the filament,—it is then termed innate. 3. The an- — 
ther is often attached by a single point in the connective (at : 
its back) by a very tapering filament, so as to hang very 
loosely and lightly,—it is then termed versatile. This latter — 
structure is seen in the grasses, in which the filament and 4 
anther are connected by a single point, from which the am 
__ ther swings freely. These terms, adnate, innate, versatile, — 
are applied to the anther. : ee 
_ 399. The anther is the essential part of the stamen, as it 
<a contains the pollen or fecundating powder. It is of a cellular 
___ texture, and generally consists of two cells or membranous 
