198 



PLANT STRUCTURES 



If a young anther be sectioned transversely four sporan- 

 gia will be found imbedded beneath the epidermis, a pair 

 on each side of the axis (Figs. 1G6, 167). When they reach 

 maturity, the paired sporangia on each side usually merge to- 

 gether, forming two spore-containing cavities (Fig. 167, ^). 

 These are generally called " pollen-sacs," and each anther is 

 said to consist of two pollen-sacs, although each sac is made 

 up of two merged sporangia, and is not the equivalent of the 

 pollen-sac in Gymnosperms, which is a single sporangium. 



Fig. 167a. Various forms of stamens : A, from Solanmn, showing dehiscence by 

 terminal pores; B, from Arbutus, showing anthers witii terminal pores and 

 "horns"; C, from Berberis; Z>, from Atherosperjna, showing dehiscence by 

 uplifted valves; E, from Aqinlegia, showing longitudinal dehiscence; F, from 

 Popoivin. showing pollen-sacs near the middle of the stamen.— After Engleb 

 and I'ltANTL. 



