340 INSERTION OF STAMENS. [BOOK i. 



all which expressions are inaccurate, and lead to erroneous 

 notions of structure. The student, therefore, must under- 

 stand, that when in the Primrose the stamens are said to be 

 inserted into the mouth of the corolla, it is meant that they 



116 



120 



cohere with the corolla as far as the mouth, where they first 

 separate from it ; when in the Rose they are said to be inserted 

 into the calyx, it is meant that they cohere with the calyx up 

 to a certain point, where they separate from it; when in 

 Arabis they are said to be inserted under the pistil, it is meant 

 that they cohere with neither calyx nor corolla, but stand 

 erect from the point which immediately produces them ; and 

 finally, when in Orchis or Heracleum they are said to be 

 inserted into the pistil, such an expression is to be taken as 

 meaning that they cohere with the pistil more or less perfectly. 

 For excellent arguments in support of this hypothesis, see 

 Dunal's Considerations sur la nature et les rapports de quelques 

 uns des Organes de la Fleur. I do not use them or any such, 

 here, because it seems to be so self-evident a fact, when once 

 pointed out, as to require no demonstration, and can easily 

 be ascertained to be true by actual inspection of a flower in 

 its different stages of growth. It is, however, to be recollected 

 that in some cases the peduncle is supposed to be hollowed 

 out (see page 329) ; and when that occurs the origin of the 

 stamens will be theoretically at the orifice or edge of the 

 supposed excavation. 



When the filaments are combined into a single mass, the 



