1 1O REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS. CHAP. Ill* 



detached from one another, as in the Primrose ; but 

 sometimes they are united into one, two, or more 

 sets. If they are united into one set, as in the Mal- 

 low, the flower is said to be MonadelpJious ; if they 

 are united into two sets, as in the Pea, the flower is 

 said to be Diaddphous ; and if they are divided 

 into several sets, as in St. John's-wort, the flower is 

 said to be Polyadelphous. 



In most stamens the surface of the filament is 

 smooth, as in Anthericum serot'mum; but in some it 

 is pubescent, as in Orobanche elatior ; in some it is 

 villose, as in Narthecium ossij'ragum ; and in some 

 it is bearded, that is partially covered with hairs, as 

 in Tulipa sylvestris. 



The colour of the filament is generally white, as 

 in the Convolvulus; but in the Peach-tree it is 

 spotted, and in the Medlar-tree it is red. In some 

 stamens the filaments are elastic, that is unbcndmg 

 themselves with a considerable force as the corolla 

 expands, as in the genus Urtica ; and in some they 

 are susceptible to the action of stimuli, as in those 

 of the Barberry, which if touched with the point 

 of a needle or other fine instrument on the inner 

 side and near the base, will spring forward im- 

 mediately with a sudden jerk to the centre of the 

 flower.^ Such are some of the most remarkable of 

 the peculiarities of the filament or lower part of the 

 stamen. 



And an- The anther or summit, and only essential part of 

 the stamen, is a small bag or vessel containing a fine 

 * Smith's Tracts. 



