6 PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS. [part i. 



each perfect stamen consisting of three parts, — 

 the Filament, the Anther, and the Pollen. 

 The filament (e) is, however, often wanting, and 

 it is only the anther {f), and the powder called 

 the pollen which it contains, that are essential. 

 The anther, when the flower first expands, ap- 

 pears like a little oblong case with a deep groove 

 down the centre, or rather like two oblong cases 

 stuck together. When these cases become ripe, 

 they burst and let out the pollen which was in- 

 closed within them. The pollen is generally 

 very abundant, and it is often seen in the form 

 of yellow dust descending from the catkins of 

 the cedar of Lebanon, or the Scotch fir, or of 

 orange powder, as on the stamens of the orange 

 lily, when it sticks to everything it touches. 

 About the time of the bursting of the anthers, 

 the stigma becomes covered with a glutinous 

 moisture, which absorbs the pollen that falls 

 upon it. The pollen, when absorbed by the 

 stigma, is conveyed down the style to the ovary, 

 where it falls upon and fertilises the ovules or 

 incipient seeds. Nothing can be more beautiful 

 or more ingenious than the mechanism by which 

 this process is effected. It is necessary that the 

 grains of pollen should be separated before they 

 reach the ovary, and they are so in their pas- 

 sage down the style in a manner more fine and 

 delicate than could be done by any exertion of 



