OF THE GBRMEN. 209 



length and thickness^ sometimes altogether wanting, 

 and when present serving merely to elevate the 

 third part, Stigma, c. This last is indispensahle. Its 

 shape is various, either simple, scarcely more than a 

 point, or capitate, forming a little round head, or 

 variously lobed. Sometimes hollow, and gaping 

 more especially when the flower is in its highest 

 perfection ; very generally do^vny, 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 ground. The 

 moisture is designed for the reception of the pollen, 

 which explodes on meeting with it; and hence 

 the seeds are rendered capable of ripening, which, 

 though in many plants fully formed, they would not 

 otherwise be. 



The Germen appears under a variety of shapes 

 and sizes. It is of great moment for botanical di- 

 stinctions to observe whether it be superior, that is, 

 above the bases of the calyx and corolla, as in the 

 Strawberry and Raspberry ; or inferior, belov/ them, 

 as in the Apple and Pear.^A^ery rarely indeed the 

 Germen is supposed to be betwixt the calyx and 

 corolla, of v»hich Sanguisorba, Engl. Bot. t. 1312, 

 is reckoned by Linnaeus an example; but the co- 

 rolla there has really a tube, closely embracing the 

 Germen. In Adoxa, t. 4.53, the calyx is half in- 

 ferior, the corolla superior. When in botanical 

 language we say germen superior^ it is equivalent 



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