168 THE FERTILISATION OF FLOWERS. [PART IIT. 
The anthers dehisce in the bud, whilst both carina and ale are 
still covered by the vexillum, and before any of the petals have 
nearly attained their full size. At an earlier period the five outer 
stamens, which alternate with the petals, and the five inner 
stamens are unequally developed, so that the anthers form two 
whorls, one behind the other round the style; but when they are 
ready to dehisce all ten stamens are of equal length, and their 
Fic, 53.—Lotus corniculatus, L. 
1.—Front view of flower. 
2.—Oblique view. 
8.—Side view, after removal of the vexillum. 
4.—F lower, seen from above, after removal of the vexillum. 
5.—Side view, after removal of the ala, more magnified. 
6.—From the right side, after careful removal of the right half of the carina. 
7.—F lower viewed from above, after removal of the vexillum and ale. 
8.—The essential organs inclosed in the front half of the carina, as shown in 6, more magnified. 
9.—Side view of the essential organs from a bud, immediately after the pollen has been shed. 
A comparison of 8 and 9 shows how much longer and thicker the outer stamens become during the 
interval between the shedding of the pollen and the opening of the flower. 
10.—The same organs seen from above, to show how the outer, terminally-thickened stamens 
spring apart when freed from the pressure of the carina. 
11.—The nine synadelphous stamens of a fully developed flower spread out. 
a, entrances to the honey ; b. the upward curvature of the free stamens; c, the carinal depres- 
sions, into which fit the two depressions of the ale (c’): d, the tive inner stamens, which remain 
short; ¢, the five outer, which grow long and club-shaped ; f, stigma; e-g, apex of carina, full of 
pollen ; g, orifice through which the pollen is expelled. 
anthers reach to the base of the conical apex of the carina, The 
ends of the filaments are still very much alike, but the five outer 
Mics 
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