THE MICROSCOrE AND TJJE FLOWEK GARDEN. 15 



If from the anthers themselves, we pass to their contents, we shall find ourselves 

 transported to a faiiy land, peopled with objects of the most elegant and interesting forms, 

 and although the pollen dust of some flowers is extremely minute, and requires a high 

 power for examination, yet with a good ' Stanhope lens we shall be able to advance 

 a considerable distance into this enchanting region. 



Among the more remarkable forms assumed by the pollen grains, we may mention those 

 of the Passion-flower, Ipomsea, Sunflower, and Chichory. In the first-named plant the 

 grains are nearly globular, covered with an elegant net-work, and opening by several 

 opercula or lids, to allow the protrusion of the pollen tubes. In the Sunflower, the 

 grains are also spherical, but are studded with spine-like processes, and in the Chichory 

 the granules are polyhedral, having as many as fourteen facets. In the Phlox, the 

 figure is triangular, each angle being terminated by a ball, and in nearly every plant 

 something more or less remarkable will delight the eye of the beholder. 



The central column or style and stigma of most plants will amply repay the trouble 

 of microscopic examination. What a beautiful object it presents, for instance, in the 

 well-known Periwinkle, in the Violet Tribe, and in the common Aster ! In the last 

 named plant the style is terminated by two processes or horns covered with hairs, the 

 stigma itself being on the inner side of the fork, where it may be easily seen by the aid 

 of the lens. The Asteroid section of the Composite flowers, and indeed most of the plants 

 of the Order, are remarkable for their long style, which projects far above the anthers, and 

 were it not for the collecting hairs, as they are termed by botanists, by which its branches 

 are crowned, and which, during their development, carry up the pollen and retain it until 

 the stigma is fit for its reception, it is difficult to imagine how the young ovules could be 

 fertilized. But in Nature every emergency is provided for ! 



The Nectary or honey-pore, situated at the base of the petals of some plants is a 

 curious organ, which may be viewed to advantage in the common Pritillary, in the allied 

 genus Cychbothra, one species of which we hope soon to figure, and also in the beautiful 

 new annual Nemophila metadata. 



The hairs of plants equally claim observation, some being forked, others toothed or 

 branched, and a few are beaded, of which those at the base of the stamens of the common 

 Spiderwort ( ' Tradescantia J are an interesting example. Although apparently very humble 

 organs, hairs perform a most important office in the vegetable economy ; the absorption of 

 fluid by the leaves being in a great degree effected by their agency, and they are further 

 supposed to act as so many conducting points, upon the electricity of the surrounding 

 atmosphere. 



Few objects are more beautiful than the delicate spiral threads, which are easily 

 Been in the foot stalks of most leaves by gently breaking them across, and then 

 carefully and to a slight extent separating the parts. The leaves of the Pelargoniums, 

 Strawberry, Vine and Asparagus, furnish interesting examples of this curious structure. 

 The spiral fibres are not always confined to the leaves and stem, being sometimes found 

 investing the seed, as in the genera Salvia, and Collomia. To view them with the 



