CHAPTER X. THE STAMENS, OR AXDRCECIUM. 75 



is also ringent, if the lips spread wide apart, as in the last figure; 

 and if they are closed, and have thickened lips, as in Snap-dragon 

 and Linaria, it is personate. A gamopetalous corolla may also be 

 saccate or calcarate, the same as one whose petals are distinct. 

 The corolla of Linaria, Fig. 225, is both personate and calcarate. 

 The margins of gamophyllous calyxes and corollas may be 

 variously indented or lobed, the same as those of leaves, and 

 the same terms are used in describing them. 



Practical Exercises. 



Study the torus, calyx and corolla of the following flowers, observing 

 carefully their structure and describing them fully, using the proper descriptive 

 language of botany : Those of the Petunia, Strawberry, Wild Lupine, Water- 

 lily, Dandelion, Lady's slipper, Lobelia, Rose, Paeony, and Wallflower. State 

 also, from your examination of them, which of these flowers have a disc, what 

 its shape is in each case, and whether it is hypogynous, perigynous or epigynous. 



CHAPTER X.— THE STAMENS, OR ANDRCECIUM. 



The stamens are the male organs of reproduction, and each 

 stamen, when complete, consists of a filament, or stalk, which is 

 not essential, and an anther, the essential portion, which con- 

 tains in its interior a fine powdery dust, called pollen. 

 See Fig. 226. 



Stamens are said to be definite in number when 

 so few as to be readily counted, as in the flowers of 

 the Barberry, Mustard and Geranium, and indefinite 

 when very numerous, making it difficult to count 

 them, as in the Buttercup, the Rose, and the Water- 

 lily. 



As to their insertion, they may be situated on the 

 receptacle, as in the Poppy, when they are said to 



Fig. 226. — A stamen, consisting of a po"en-bearing part, the anther, a, and a stalk or 

 filament, b. 



be hypogynous ; or they may be borne on the margin of the 

 calyx-tube or of the disc, as in the Apple and Cherry, when 

 they are said to be perigynous ; or they may be borne on 

 the top of the ovary, as in the Fennel and Madder, when they 



