268 THE FLOWER. 



rudiments of the five proper stamens, which here remain unde- 

 veloped. In the annexed diagram (Fig. 331) these are accord- 

 ingly laid down in the third circle, as five small oval spots, slightly 

 shaded. The actual stamens consequently belong to two aug- 

 mented circles, those of the exterior and shorter set of which 

 (represented by the larger, unshaded figures), normally alternating 

 with the glands, are of course opposed to the petals, and those of 

 the inner and larger set, normally alternating with the preceding, 

 necessarily alternate with the petals.. This view is further eluci- 

 dated by the closely allied genus Erodium, where all the parts are 

 just the same, except that the five exterior actual stamens are 

 shorter still, and are destitute of anthers; that is, the disposition to 

 suppression which has caused the obliteration of the primary circle 

 of stamens, and somewhat reduced the second in Geranium, has in 

 Erodium rendered the latter abortive also, leaving those of the 

 third row alone to fulfil their proper office. It is just the same in 



the Flax Family, except that the 

 glands which answer to the primary 

 suppressed stamens are still less con- 

 spicuous, and those of the next circle 

 are reduced to very small abortive 

 filaments, or to minute teeth in the 

 ring formed by the union of all the 

 filaments into a cup at the base, leaving five perfect stamens, which, 

 though they alternate with the petals indeed, belong to a third cir- 

 cle. (Fig. 332, 333.) In a few species of Flax, the second circle 

 of stamens is perfectly obliterated, so that no vestige is to be seen. 

 478. The case is different in the Buckthorn Family and in Bytt- 

 neriaceae, (and probably in Claytonia also, Fig. 339,) where we 

 cannot but consider the stamens which alone appear, and stand 

 singly before the petals (with which they are frequently connected at 

 the base), as belonging to the corolline circle (459). Here the sym- 

 metrical alternation is interfered with first by chorisis, and then, 

 that process having given an abnormal set of stamens, by the total 

 suppression of the real stamineal circle, as in the Buckthorn Fam- 

 ily, &c., or their abortion, and reduction to sterile rudiments, as in 

 many Byttneriacese ; while in others the genuine circle of stamens 



FIG. 332. Flower of Linum perenne. 333. Its stamens and pistils separated: the glands 

 are not represented : the next circle is reduced to minute sterile filaments alternating with the 

 actual stamens. 



