30 THE STAMEN. 



but there are many exceptions to this rule. The calyx of the spurge- 

 laure! is yellow, and the corolla green : the calyx of the scarlet fu. 

 shia is of a bright scarlet, the corolla indigo. The calyx and corolla 

 of the mezereon are not only coloured, but are even united at the 

 margin, so as to form but one piece. Again, the corolla of the white 

 lily is at first perfectly green, and similar, by analogy, to a calyx ; but 

 it changes afterwards to a beautiful white, and assumes the appear- 

 ance of a corolla. 



THE STAMEN. 



15. The stamens are a very important part of a flower, 

 They are generally of a very slender fabric and of a 

 thread-shaped figure, surmounted with a peculiar ball or 

 head, and situated, for the most part, immediately within 

 Ihe corolla. (F. 8.*) 



Stamens are found to be differently situated in different flowers, so 

 that in some they are attached to the germen, and in others to the 

 calyx, corolla, and so on. These variations in the situation ol the 

 stamens are not, however, the result of chance, but are permanent in 

 all the species of plants to which they are peculiar. 



16. Stamens are divided into two parts ; viz. the fila- 

 ment and the anther. 



17. The filament is the thread-shaped part supporting 

 the head or anther. (F. 8, e.) 



The filament does does not appear to be a very important part, for 

 the stamen is capable of performing its functions without it, but never 

 without an anther. Many plants are destitute of the filament altoge- 

 ther, as in the genus aristolochia. 



18. The anther is the only essential part of the stamen, 

 and is the small head or knob (F. 8, d) which contains 



