274 OF THE GERMEN. 



simple, scarcely more than a point, or 

 capitate, forming a little round head, or 

 variously lobed. Sometimes hollow, and 

 gaping more especially when the floM^er is 

 in its highest perfection ; very generally 

 downy, and always more or less moist 

 with a peculiar viscid fluid, which in some 

 plants is so copious as to form a large 

 drop, though never big enough to fall 

 to the groilnd. The moisture is designed 

 for the reception of the pollen, which ex- 

 plodes on meeting with it ; and hence the 

 seeds are rendered capable of ripening, 

 which, though in many plants fully form- 

 ed, they would not otherwise be. 



The Germen appears under a variety of 

 shapes and sizes. It is of great moment 

 for botanical distinctions to observe whe- 

 ther it be superior, that is, above the 

 bases of the calyx and corolla, as in the 

 Strawberry and Raspberry, or inferior, 

 below them, as in the Apple and Pear. 

 Very rarely indeed the Germen is supposed 

 to be betwixt the calyx and corolla, of 

 which Sangiiisorba, Engl. Bot. t. 1312, is 

 reckoned by Linnaeus an example; but 



