- POLLEN. 35 
65. The stamMENsS are those thread-like organs, seen in the 
midst of the flower, situated around the pistils and within the 
corolla, or the calyx, constituting the andrecium. — 
66. The stamen (Fig. 4, No. 3) consists of three distinct 
parts; namely, the filament, a; the anther, b; and the pollen, c. 
The filament is sometimes wanting, the two latter are essen- 
tial. 
67. The FritamEent (Lat. filum, a thread) is the stem, sup- 
porting the anther at or near its top, and is analogous to the 
‘stem of a leaf, or to the claw of a petal. When it is wanting, 
the anther, like a leaf or a petal in a similar case, is said to be 
sessile. . 
68. The anTHER is generally situated at the summit of the 
filament, and is composed of two parallel lobes. or cells, con- 
nected to each other and to the filament by the connectile. It is 
analogous to the blade of the leaf, each half blade being trans- 
formed into a lobe, and the midrib into the connectile. 
a. Each cell of the anther usually opens by a longitudinal fissure, called the 
dehiscence, but sometimes, as in the potato, Pyrola, &c. by an aperture (pore) at 
the summit. In the Polygala, mallow, &c. the two cells are reduced to one. 
b. The connectile is usually a mere prolongation of the filament terminating, 
not at the base, but at the summit of the anthers. In some cases it is prolonged 
above them, into a sort of appendage, as in the violet, silk-weed, &c. 
c. The anther is sometimes wanting, and the filament in such cases cannot 
constitute a stamen, but is said to be abortive, or sterile. . 
69. In regard to the modes of attachment between the anther and the filament, 
we find the following variations; the anthers are said to be, 
1. Innate, when they are attached to the filament by the base of the connectile. 
2. Adnate, when they are attached to the filament by their back, so as to appear 
lateral; as in the Anemone, water-lily. 
3. Versatile, when fixed by a single point to the connectile, from which they 
lightly swing; as in the grasses. 
4. When the anthers are attached to the inside of the filament, or connectile, so 
that the line of dehiscence faces the pistils, they are called introrse (turned 
inward). But when they are attached to the outside of the connectile, so that the 
dehiscence faces the petals, they are called eztrorse (turned outward). Examples 
of the former are seen in the violet; of the latter in the larkspur. These distinc- 
tions are of importance, as will hereafter be seen. 
“70. The Po.ten is, in appearance, a small, yellow dust, con- 
tained in the cells of the anther. When viewed with a micro- 
scope, it appears to consist of grains (granules) of various forms, 
4 
