CLASS1FICA TION. 3 7 



furnished with anthers while the central stamen is anther- 

 less, but the stigma and style separate from the fila- 

 ments nearly to the base and the triple nature of the 

 former is distinctly shown, together with the relation of 

 its lobes to the other parts of the flower. 



The pollen, which has so anomalous an appearance 

 in its waxy or sectile state, presents the usual appearance 

 of that substance in Goodyera and many Neottea. And 

 the irregularity of the labellum disappears in such genera 

 as Paxtonia, Thelymitra, and some others whose flowers 

 are almost as regular as those of a Sisyrinchinm. 



In the classification of Orchids, the most important 

 characters seem to reside in the pollen, which in many 

 is consolidated into firm waxy masses of a definite num- 

 ber in each species, and in others is either in its usual 

 loose powdery condition, or is collected in granules or 

 small wedges, the number of which is far too great to be 

 counted. 



Of those with waxy pollen masses, some (Malaxetz) 

 are destitute of any visible organs, or means by which 

 the masses are brought into contact with the stigma ; 

 others (Epidendrece) have strap-shaped caudiculae, which 

 are either bent down upon the masses themselves, or 

 serve to hold them together, without, however, forming 

 any organized union with the stigma ; while the remain- 

 der ( Vandecz) have a caudicula, which adheres firmly to a 

 gland found on the upper margin of the stigma, and sep- 

 arating freely from that organ. 



The last form is much more distinct from the two first, 

 than they are from each other, and it may be requisite to 

 combine Malaxecs with Epidendrea, or to exclude from 

 the former not only Acanthophippium, Ccdogyne, and Pho- 



