CHAP. I.] GERANIACE^. 333 



but these are exceptions to the general rule. 

 The perfect stamens vary in number from four 

 to seven ; but there are always ten filaments, 

 which are dilated, and grow together at the 

 base ; and I was quite delighted with the 

 sparkling gem-like appearance of the mem- 

 brane which they form when thus united, when 

 I looked at it through my little microscope. 

 In the plant now before me (a hybrid called the 

 Duke of Sussex), the upper parts of some of the 

 stamens have turned into little petals, retaining 

 the white membrane-like part at the base, and 

 thus curiously exemplifying the manner in which 

 double flowers are formed, which is always by 

 the metamorphosis of the stamens, or of the 

 stamens and pistil, into petals. The pistil of 

 the Pelargonium appears, when young, to con- 

 sist of a five-celled ovary, with a long slender 

 style, the tip of which is divided into five slender 

 curved stigmas. The cells of the ovary are, 

 however, five one-seeded carpels, each having a 

 separate style ; and though both the carpels 

 and styles appear firmly grown together when 

 young, yet, in fact, they only adhere to an 

 elongation of the receptacle (see a v^fig. 134), 

 which is here called the central axis, and from 

 which, when ripe, they part with elasticity, and 

 curl up, as shown at h ; the styles, or awns, as 

 they are sometimes called, being hairy inside. 



