318 SEXUALITY OF VEGETABLES. CHAP, Vt. 



maturity together, so they also decay together ; the 

 stamens shrinking and withering immediately after 

 the anthers have discharged their pollen, and 

 the stigma withering also and falling off much about 

 the same time, even when the style remains an ap- 

 pendage to the fruit. 



From the Obs. 5. The relative proportion, situation, and 

 SfSie tl0n mutua l sympathies, of the stamens and pistils are 

 stamens of gych as seem expressly calculated to facilitate the 



the pistils. r m J 



process of impregnation. In pendulous flowers the 

 pistil is generally longest, as in the case of the Lily ; 

 but in upright flowers the stamens are generally the 

 longest, as in the case of the Ranunculus. In simple 

 and hermaphrodite flowers the situation of the pistil 

 is invariably central with regard to that of the 

 stamens,, as may be seen by inspecting almost any 

 flower at random. In plants of the class Moncecia, 

 the barren blossoms stand generally above the fertile 

 blossoms, even when situated on the same foot-stalk, 

 as may be seen in the case of the Car ex and Arum. 

 And in plants that have their barren and fertile 

 flowers on distinct individuals, the blossom is gene- 

 rally protruded before the leaves expand. But a 

 very little reflection will serve to show that all the 

 above arguments are institutions of nature, by which 

 the pollen, when it explodes from its envelopes, 

 shall possess the best possible chance of coming into 

 contact with the pistil or stigma. 



And where such means are wanting, nature dis- 

 plays a variety of other contrivances to effect the 



