11 6 REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS. CHAP. III. 



SUBSECTION IV. 



Defini- The Pistil. The pistil is a small and column- 

 shaped but often pestle-shaped substance (whence 

 probably the name), occupying almost invariably the 

 centre of the flower, and encompassed immediately 

 by the stamens. (PL IV. Fig. 1 1.) This is at least 

 the case in all hermaphrodite plants, by which are 

 meant all plants producing both stamens and pistils 

 in the same flower, as may be exemplified in that 

 of the Lily, in which an individual pistil, occupy- 

 ing the centre, is surrounded by six stamens. But 

 it often happens that the stamens and pistils are 

 not produced in the same flower, but each in a 

 different flower ; and of this there are three cases. 

 1st. When the stamens and pistils are produced in 

 different flowers on the same plant, in which case 

 the plant is said to be Monoecious ; the flower con- 

 taining stamens only being the barren flower, and 

 the flower containing pistils only being the fertile 

 flower. Idly. When the stamens and pistils are 

 produced in different flowers, and on different 

 plants, in which case the plants are said to be 

 Dicecioiis ; the plant bearing flowers with stamens 

 only being barren, and the plant bearing flowers 

 with pistils only being fertile. And 3dly. When 

 hermaphrodite flowers, and flowers producing sta- 

 mens and pistils separately, are found on the same 



