380 ACCorxT OF a nev/ genus of plants, 



may be stated to depend either on a reduced or increased 

 development of the parts enumerated, on differences in the 

 manner of bursting, or on the confluence of two or more 

 anthercC. 



Reduced development may consist merely in the approxi- 

 mation of the tliecae, consequent on the narrowing or entire 

 absence of the connecting portion of the filament, which is 

 one of the most common states of anthera ; in their partial 

 confluence, generally at the npper extremity ; their paral- 

 213] lelism either continuing, which is also not unfrequent ; 

 or accompanied by various degrees of divergence, as in 

 many genera of Labi at a ; in their complete confluence 

 while they remain parallel, as in Epacridea, FoJjjgalecB, 

 and in some genera of AcanfliacecB ; and lastly, in the 

 imperfect production or entire suppression of one of the 

 thecse, as in Westrlngla, Anisouides, and Marantece. 



Increased development may in like manner be confined 

 to the dilatation, elongation, or division of the connecting 

 portion of the filament, of which exan] pies occur in many 

 Scitamine^B, OrcJddet^ and Acantliacece ; it may consist in 

 211] the elongation of the thecae either above or below the 

 connecting filament ; in an increased number of divisions of 

 each theca by longitudinal, transverse, or oblique processes 

 of the receptacle of the pollen, as in several genera of 

 OrchidecB and Laurince ; or in the persistence of part of the 

 cells in which the pollen is formed, as in jEgkevas. 



Reduced and increased development of different parts 

 may co-exist in the same organ,' as in the bifid or incum- 

 bent anthera with contiguous thecse ; in the extraordinary 

 dilatation of the connecting portion of the filament, Avhile 

 one of the thecse is abortive or imperfect, as in the greater 

 number of Salvice ; or in the thecse being confluent, while 



whether in the simple or compound state, they become always inclosed^ and, 

 before fecundation at least, are completely protected from the direct action of 

 light and of the atmosphere. 



In Conifera and Ci/cadea, however, according to the view I am disposed fo 

 take of them {Tuckefs Congo, append. p. 454, cnitc,pA2>^), this is not entirely the 

 case. But tliese two families will perhaps be found to differ from all other pliaino- 

 gamous plants in the more simple structure both of their ovaria and antherae. 



