270 OP THE STAMENS 



There can be no doubt that the sole use of 

 the honey with respect to the plant is to 

 tempt insects, who in procuring it fertilize 

 the flower, by disturbing the dust of the Sta- 

 mens, and even carry that substance from 

 the barren to the fertile blossoms. 



3 . St a m i N a . The Stamens, formerly called 

 Chives, are various in number in different 

 flowers, from one to some hundreds. Their 

 situation is internal with respect to the 

 parts we have been describing ; external 

 to the Pistils, at least in simple flowers. 



These organs are essential, there being 

 no plant hitherto discovered, after the most 

 careful research, that is destitute of them, 

 either in the same flower with the pistils, 

 or a separate one of the same species. 



A Stamen commonly consists of two 

 parts, the Filament, Filamentum, and 

 Anther*, A n t h era^ the former being merely 

 what supports the latter, which is the only 

 essential part. Various forms and propor- 



* I submit to the opinion of Professor Martyn in 

 adopting this word, for the reasons given in his La?i- 

 guage of Botany, more especially as general practice 

 seems to favour its use. 



