22 



several inches in length, generally channelled on its front surface, 

 and occasionally furnished with projecting wings at the sides, or 

 with peculiar sensitive antennae, of which an extraordinary 

 example occurs in Catasetum saccatum, so ably described by 

 Mr. C. Darwin. Near the top of the column the stigma is usually 

 found, a depression in the surface of varying depth, and containing 



FIG. 6. 



Section and lateral view of Cattleya flower, with all the sepals and petals 

 removed, except the bisected labellum shown only in outline, a, anther ; 

 b t spring at the top of the column ; p, pollen-masses ; r, rostellum ; s, 

 stigma ; col, column ; /, labellum ; n, nectary ; y, ovary. 



a viscid matter, which serves to retain the pollen masses when 

 deposited upon it. At the summit in most orchids is the anther 

 case (clinandrium), which is commonly 2-celled, but occasionally 

 4-celled, or with only one. This contains the pollen, which is 

 agglomerated into small masses, varying in number from 2 to 8, 

 globular, elliptical, or club-shaped, and with or without a stalk 



