28 FLOWERS. 
rises from the top of this seed-vessel, and sup- 
ports a small spongy substance called the Stigma. 
Around this pistil, or pistils, (as there are sometimes 
many,) are placed the stamens, each consisting of a 
slender thread, or filament, supporting a little bag, 
called the anther, which contains the pollen, a kind 
of powder or dust; when this powder ripens, the 
anthers burst, and the pollen falls upon the stigma, 
which is mostly below, and thus the seed in the ovary 
becomes fertilized. These grains of pollen, which 
are very minute, when seen under a microscope are 
of various shapes; some are round or oval, some 
square, others are toothed like a watch-wheel, or re- 
semble a prickly ball, while others have long appen- 
dages or tails. 
There is much difference eae its in the shape 
and size of flowers, as well as their colorings; some 
are large and showy, while others are so diminutive 
as to require the aid of a microscope to distinguish 
them. Some are shaped like a bell, as may be seen 
in the Campanula; others like a trumpet, as the Con- 
volvulus and Honeysuckle; the common Snapdragon 
and the Searlet Sage have flowers of a very peculiar 
form, called ringent, or grinning, from their resem- 
blance to an open mouth; but the most common form 
of flowers is the shape of a star or across. They 
generally consist of from four to eight or ten petals, 
spreading out like rays, arranging themselves va- 
riously; sometimes these petals are broad at the 
base, and bend upwards, and form a shallow cup; 
sometimes they bend backwards, and almost, clasp the 
