STAMEN'S AND PISTILS. 251 



Iv separated flowers, blossoming before the leaves come 

 forth, and in a windy season of the year ; while those 

 which blossom later, as the Oak, are either peculiarly 

 frequented by insects, or, like the numerous kinds of 

 Fir, have leaves so little in the way, and pollen so exces- 

 sively abundant, that impregnation can scarcely ftul. 



The pollen and the stigma are always in perfection at 

 the same time, the latter commonly withering and falling 

 offa little after the anthers, though the style may remain 

 to become an useful appendage to the fruit. The Viola 

 tricolor or Pansy, the Gratiola, the Martynia, and many 

 plants besides, have been observed to be furnibhed with 

 a stigma gaping only at the time the pollen is ripe. The 

 beautiful Jacobean Lily, Amaryllis for mosmsima. Curt, 

 Mag. t. 47, is justly described by Linn^us as provided 

 with a drop of clear liquid, which protrudes every morn- 

 ing from the stigma, and about noon seems almost 

 ready to fall to the ground. It is however re-absorbed in 

 the afternoon, having received the pollen whose vapour 

 renders it turbid, and whose minute husks afterwards 

 remain upon the stigma. The same phoenomenon takes 

 place several successive days. 



In opposition to similar facts, proving the synchro- 

 nous operation of these organs, Pontedera has, with 

 more observation than usual, remarked that in the um- 

 belliferous tribe the style frequently does not appear till 

 the anthers are fallen. But he ought to have perceived 

 that the stigma is previously perfected, and that tlie style 

 seems to grow out afterwards, in a recurved and divari- 

 cated form, for the purpose of providing hooks to the 

 ieeds. It is also observable that in this family the se'>'- 



