LESSON 17.] THE STAMENS. Ill 



LESSON XVII. 



MORPHOLOGY OF THE STAMENS. 



284. THE STAMENS exhibit nearly the same kinds of variation in 

 different species that the calyx and corolla do. They may be dis- 

 tinct (that is, separate from each other, 267) or united. They may 

 be free (269), or else coherent with other parts : this concerns 



285. Their Insertion, or place of attachment, which is most com- 

 monly the same as that of the corolla. So, stamens are 



Hypogynous (269), when they are borne on the receptacle, or axis 

 of the flower, under the pistils, as they naturally should be, and as is 

 shown in Fig. 212. 



Perigynous, when borne on (that is coherent below with) the 

 calyx ; as in the Cherry, Fig. 213. 



Epigynous, when borne on the ovary, appar- 

 ently, as in Fig. 216. To these we may add 



Gynandrous (from two Greek words, answer- 

 ing to " stamens and pistil united"), when the 

 stamens are consolidated with the style, so as 

 to be borne by it, as in the Lady's Slipper 

 (Fig. 226) and all the Orchis Family. Also 



Epipetalous (meaning on the petals), when 

 they are borne by the corolla; as in Fig. 194, 

 and in most monopetalous blossoms. As to 



286. Their Union with each Other, the stamens may be united by 

 their filaments or by their anthers. In the former case they are 



Monadelphous (from two Greek words, meaning " in one brother- 

 hood "), when united by their filaments into one set, usually into a 

 ring or cup below, or into a tube, as in the Mallow Family, the 

 Passion-flower, and the Lupine (Fig. 228). 



Diadelphous (in two brotherhoods), when so united in two sets, 

 as in the Pea and almost all papilionaceous flowers (275): here 

 the stamens are nine in one set, and one in the other (Fig. 227). 



FIG. 226. Style of a Lady's Slipper (Cypripedimn), and stamens united with it : a, a, the 

 anthers of the two good stamens ; st., an abortive stamen, what should be its anther changed 

 into a petal-like body ; stiff. , the etigma. 



