230 I UxNCTlONS 01 



dera was reduced to seek plants without stamens among 

 the figures of the Hortus Malabariciis, but the plates in 

 which he confided are now known to be fiuilty in that 

 very particular. 



Plants indeed have occasionally abortive stamens in 

 one flower and barren pistils in another, and the Plan- 

 tain-tree, Musa, is described by Linnasus as having five 

 out of its six stamens perfected in such blossoms as ri- 

 pen no fruit, while those with a fertile germen contain 

 only a single ripe stamen, five being ineffective. This 

 only shows the resources, the wisdom, and the infinite 

 variety of the creation. When the roots are luxuriantly 

 prolific, the flowers are in some measure defective, Na- 

 ture, relaxing as it were from her usual solicitude, and 

 allowing her children to repose, and indulge in the abund- 

 ance of good things about them. But when want 

 threatens, she instantly takes the alarm ; all her energies 

 are exerted to secure the future progeny, even at the 

 hazard of the parent stock, and to send them abroad to 

 colonise more favourable situations. 



Most generally the access of the pollen is not trusted 

 to any accidental modes of conveyance, however nume- 

 rous, elaborate, and, ifv/e may so express it, ingenious, 

 such modes may be ; but the Siamens are for greater 

 security lodged in the same flower, under the protection 

 of the same silken veils, or more substantial guards, 

 which shelter their appropriate pistils. This is the case 

 with die majority of our herbs and shrubs, and even 

 with the trees of hot countries, whose leaves being al- 

 ways present might impede the passage of the pollen. 

 On the contrary, the trees of cold climates have general- 



