THE WELCOMES OF THE FLOWERS 107 



markable divergence? Here is an anther with 

 its two cells connected lengthwise, and opening at 

 the sides, perhaps balanced at the centre upon the 

 top of its stalk or filament, or laterally attached 

 and continuous with it; here is another opening 

 by pores at the tip, and armed with two or four 

 long horns; here is one with a feathery tail. In 

 another the twin cells are globular and closely as- 

 sociated, while in its neighbor they are widely 

 divergent. Another is club-shaped, and opens on 

 either side by one or more upraised lids; and 

 here is an example with its two very unequal cells 

 separated by a long curved ami or connective, 

 which is hinged at the tip of its filament; and the 

 procession might be continued across two pages 

 with equal variation. 



As far back as botanical history avails us these 

 forms have been the same, each true to its partic- 

 ular species of flower, each with an underlying 

 purpose which has a distinct and often simple ref- 

 erence to its form ; and yet, incredible as it now 

 seems to us, the botanist of the past has been con- 

 tent with the simple technical description of the 

 feature, without the slightest conception of its 

 meaning, dismissing it, perhaps, with passing com- 

 ment upon its "eccentricity" or "curious shape." 

 Indeed, prior to Darwin's time it might be said 



