SECTION 9.] 



POLLEN. 



103 



293. By suppression lii certain cases the anther may be reduced to one 

 cell or halved. In Globe Amaranth (Fig. 299) there is a single cell without 

 vestige of any other. Different species of Sage and of the White Sages of 

 California show various grades of abortion of one of the auther-cells, along 

 with a siugular lengthening of the connective (Fig. 302-305). 



294. The splitting open of an anther for the discharge of its pollen is 

 termed its Dehiscence. 



295. As the figures show, this is commonly by a line along the whole 

 length of each cell, either lateral or, 



when the anthers are extrorse, often 

 along the outer face, and when introrse, 

 along the inner face of each cell. Some- 

 times the opening is only by a chink, hole, 

 or pore at the top, as in the Azalea, Py- 

 rola (Fig. 307), etc. ; sometimes a part of 

 the face separates as a sort of trap-door 

 (or valve), hinged at the top, and open- 

 ing to allow the escape of the pollen, 

 as in the Sassafras, Spice-bush, and Barberry (Fig. 308). 



29G. Pollen. This is the powdery matter, commonly of a yellow color, 

 which fills the cells of the anther, and is discharged during blossoming, 



309 810 311 312 313 



after which the stamens generally fall or wither away. Under the micro- 

 scope it is found to consist of grains, usually round or oval, and all alike 

 in the same species, but very different in different plants. So that the 



314 315 316 317 318 



plant may sometimes be recognized from the pollen alone. Several forms 

 are shown in the accompanying figures. 



Fig. 306. Stamen with the usual dehiscence of anther down the side of each cell. 



Fig. 307. Stamen of Pyrola; cells opening by a terminal hole. 



FlG. 308. Stamen of Barberry; cells of anther each opening by an uplifted valve. 



Fig. 309. Magnified pollen of a Lily, smooth and oval; 310, of Echinocystis, 

 grooved lengthwise; 311, of Sicyos, with bristly points and smooth bands; 312, of 

 Musk Plant (Mimulus), with spiral grooves; 313, of Succory, twelve-sided and 

 dotted. 



Fig. 314. Magnified pollen of Hibiscus and other Mallow-plants, beset with 

 prickly projections ; 315, of Circaca, with angles bearing little lobes; 316, of Fveu- 



