THE STAMENS. 135 



211. The Stamens. As calyx and corolla are called 

 collectively the floral envelopes, so stamens and pistil are 

 spoken of collectively as the essential organs of the flower. 

 The circle of stamens alone is sometimes called the 

 andrcecium. A complete stamen consists of a slender 

 stalk known as the filament, and one or more small sacs 

 called collectively the anther. The filament, however, is 

 not uncommonly absent, in which case the anther is sessile. 

 As a general thing, the anther consists of two oblong cells 

 with a sort of rib between them called the connective, and 

 that side of the anther which presents a distinctly grooved 

 appearance is the face, the opposite side being the back. 



Fig. 182. Fig. 183. Fig. 184. 



The filament is invariably attached to the connective, and 

 may adhere through the entire length of the latter, in 

 which case the anther is adnate (Fig. 182); or the base of 

 .the connective may rest on the end of the filament, a 

 condition described as innate (Fig. 183); or the extremity 

 of the filament may be attached to the middle of the back 

 of the connective, so that the anther swings about : it is 

 then said to be versatile (Fig. 184). In all these cases, if 

 the face of the anther is turned towards the centre of the 

 flower, it is said to be introrse ; if turned outwards, 

 extrorse. 



Figs. 182, 183, 184. Stamens showing adnate, innate, and versatile attach- 

 ments of the anther. 



