FL O WER-I. EA VES. 



[chap. 



7. In the examination of the rest of the flower much 

 nicety is required. Having stripped off the calyx and 

 petals singly, and laid them aside, proceed to the third 

 series of flower-leaves. These are very different in form and 

 structure from both sepals and petals. They consist each 

 of a lower stalk-like portion, bearing an upper, somewhat 

 thickened, oblong, and grooved head. This stalk is termed 



Fig. 4. Four Stamens of the Orange, three Fig. 5. Three Pollen-grains of the 

 of which are united by their filaments. same. 



\\\Qjilamefit , the oblong head which it supports, the anther; 

 and the filament and anther together constitute a Stam'mal 

 leaf or Stame7i. The stamens of the Orange are a little 

 shorter than the petals. As they are united to each other 

 by their filaments into sets of variable numbers, they are 

 said to be polyadelphous. 



The anther we must examine more closely. We have 

 already observed that there is a groove up the back (outer 

 side), and another, less distinct, along the face (inner side). 

 These grooves divide the anther into two lobcs^ right and 

 left. If the anther be ripe, each of these lobes will split 

 open near the edge, allowing certain fine powdery granules 

 which it contains to be easily removed by insects or other- 

 wise. These granules are essential to the flower as well as 



