104 PISTIL 



in different plants, some having but one and others hundreds. 

 Linnseus has founded the orders of his first twelve classes on 

 the number of these organs. When they are more than ten, 

 he does not re-ly upon their number, which in this case is found 

 to vary in individuals of the same genus. 



The pistil consists of three parts, the germ, style and stigma. 

 It may be compared to a pillar ; the germ (Fig. 61, a), corres- 

 Fig. 61. ponding to the base ; the style (b) to 



the shaft ; and the stigma (e) to the 



capital. 



The figure at (g) represents the pis- 



^* ^ e PPPy tne g erm or base is 

 rery large ; you will perceive that 

 'the style is wanting, and the stigma 

 is sessile, or placed immediately on 

 the germ. The style is not an essen- 

 tial part, but the stigma and germ are never wanting ; so that 

 these two parts, as in the poppy, often constitute a pistil. 



Germ. The germ contains the rudiments of the fruit yet in 

 an embryo or unformed state. A distinction is to be made be- 

 tween the germ here spoken of and the germ of the bud. This 

 germ is the future fruit, and in passing to the state of the mature 

 fruit, it undergoes a very great change. You would scarcely 

 believe that the pumpkin is but the germ of the small yellow 

 flower of the plant. The germ is said to be superior when placed 

 above the calyx or corolla, as in the strawberry : inferior when 

 below them, as in the apple. The figure of the germ is round- 

 ish in some plants, cordate and angled in others; but its vari- 

 ous forms can better be learned by observation than descrip- 

 tion. 



Style. This, like the filament, is sometimes wanting ; when 

 present, it proceeds from the germ, and bears the stigma on 

 its summit. It is usually long and slender, of a cylindrical 

 form, consisting of bundles of fibres, which transmit from the 

 stigma to the germ the fertilizing pollen. 



Stigma. This word signifies a perfecting. The stigma is 

 the top of the pistil, and always present ; if the style be want- 

 ing, it is placed upon the germ, and said to be sessile, as in the 

 tulip. The stigma is various in size and form ; sometimes it 

 is a round head ; sometimes hollow and gaping, more especial- 

 ly when the flower is in its highest perfection ; it is generally 

 downy, and always more or 'less moist with a peculiar viscid 

 fluid. 



Orders founded upon the pistil Parts of the pistil Pistil compared to a pil- 

 lar Germ Style Stigma. 



