ORGANS OP REPRODUCTION. 



251 



Fig. 520. Fig. 521. Fig. 522. 



present appendages of 

 various kinds. Thus 

 in the Erica cinerea 

 (fg. 520, a) they have 

 a flattened leafy body 

 at their base ; at other 

 times the surface of the 

 anther presents projec- 

 tions in the shape of 

 pointed bodies ( Jig. 52 1 , 

 a), as in Vaccinium 

 vliginoaum, or warts, &c. 

 Such anthers like those 

 which present appen- 

 dages from the connec- 

 tive are termed appen- 

 diculate. 



The anther when 

 young is of a greenish 

 hue, but when fully 

 matured it is usually 

 yellow. There are how- 

 ever many exceptions 

 to this ; thus it is dark 

 purple, or black, in ma- 

 ny Poppies, orange in 

 Eschsclioltzia, purple in the Tulip, red in the Peach, &c. 



Dehiscence.— V^\\Qn the anthers are perfectly ripe they open 

 and discharge the pollen contained within them; this act is 

 called the dehiscence of the anther. It usually takes place at the 

 period when the flower is expanded, and the pistil consequently 

 fully developed to receive the influence of the pollen ; at other 

 times however, the anthers burst before the flower opens and 

 while the pistil is still in an imperfect state. All the anthers 

 may open at the same period, or in succession ; and in the 

 latter case the dehiscence may either commence with the outer 

 stamens, or with the inner. Thus according to Vaucher, in 

 Helleborus the outer stamens open their anthers first, and those 

 in the centre last ; while in Glaucium the inner stamens open 

 first, and those of the circumference last. In the common Rue 

 (Hutu graveolens) again, there are two whorls of stamens, the 

 outer stamens incline towards the pistil first and discharge 

 their pollen, and then return to their former position ; the inner 

 stamens then incline and discharge their pollen in a similar 

 manner. Sometimes, as in Parnassia palustris, each stamen 

 curves in succession towards the pistil, when the anthers open 

 and emit the pollen. Usually the outer stamens are those 

 which dehisce first. 



Fig. 520. Appendiculate anther attached to fi- 

 lament, /, of the Fine-leaved Heath (Erica 

 cinerea). a. Appendix. I. Lobes, r. Lateral 



pore or slit wliere dehiscence takes place 



Fig. .o2L Bifurcate anther of facciniitm 

 uliginogum attached to filament/. /. Anther 

 lobes, a. Appendages, p. Points of the an- 

 ther lobes where dehiscence takes place. 



Fig. 522. Quadrifurcate anther of GauUheria 

 jjroe((m6eHS, attached to filament/. I Anther 

 lobes. The above figures are from Jussieu. 



