198 



ESSENTIAL ORGANS. STAMENS. 



In Stachys, the connective is expanded laterally, so as to unite the 

 bases of the antherine lobes, and bring them into a horizontal line. 



410. The opening of the anthers to discharge their contents is 

 denominated dehiscence (dehisco, I open). This takes place either by 

 clefts, by hinges, or by pores. When the anther-lobes are erect, the 

 cleft takes place lengthwise along the line of the suture, constituting 

 longitudinal dehiscence (figs. 322, 329, 342). At other times, the slit 

 takes place in a horizontal manner, from the connective to the side, as 

 in Alchemilla arvensis, and in Lemna, where the dehiscence is trans- 

 verse. When the anther-lobes are rendered horizontal by the enlarge- 

 ment of the connective (figs. 328, 344 a<?), then what is really longitudinal 

 dehiscence may appear to be transverse. In other 

 cases (fig. 344 a #), when the lobes are united 

 at the base, the fissure in each of them may be 

 continuous, and the two lobes may appear as one. 

 411. The cleft does not always proceed the 

 whole length of the anther-lobe at once, but often 

 for a time it extends only partially (figs. 343, 2, 

 338). In other instances the opening is confined 

 to the base or apex, each loculament (loculus) 

 opening by a single pore, as in Pyrola (fig. 340), 

 Vaccinium (fig. 335), and Solanum, where there 

 are two, and Poranthera (fig. 323), where there 

 344 are four. In Tetratheca juncea, the four cavities 



(fig. 324, 2) open into a single pore at the apex (fig. 334, 1) ; and in 



Fig. 341. Anther of Hnmiria balsamifera 1 1, Anther lobes. /, Filament, ciliated or fringed 

 with glandular teeth, c, Conical appendage, which seems to be a prolongation of the connective. 



Fig. 3*2. Anther of Byrsonima bicorniculata, /, Filament. I, Anther-lobes. The empty 

 lobes at the summit are detached in the form of two small horn-like projections, c, A lingui- 

 form or tongue-like appendage prolonged from the connective. 



Fig. 343. Sessile anther of Viola odorata, or sweet violet. 1. Seen in front. 2. Seen behind. 

 I, Anther-lobes, a, Spur-like appendage from the connective, c, Membranous expansion at 

 the apex of anther-lobes. 



Fig. 344. Corolla of Digitalis purpurea, cut in order to show the didynamous stamens (two 

 long and two short) which are attached to it. t, Tube. /, Filaments which are united to the 

 corolla at i, and run along its inner surface, having formed a marked adhesion, a g, Anthers 

 of the long stamens, a q, Anthers of the short stamens. 



