BOTANY. 



09 



degenerated into those of a different set, as petals into stamens, 

 flowers into leafy branches, &c. 



The stamen consists of three distinct parts, viz: the filament, 

 (Fig. 6, a,) the anther, (Fig. 6, b) and the pollen. The filament 

 Fis> 6 - is the thread-like part which sup- 



ports the anther at its summit: 

 the pollen is a fine yellow dust 

 of various forms contained within 

 the cells of the anther, until dis- 

 charged through its pores into 

 the air. 



The pistil consists also of three 

 parts, viz: the ovary, the style, 

 and the stigma. 



The ovary is the base of the 

 pistil which contains the young 

 seeds, and which ultimately be- 

 comes the fruit Fig. 6, d. 

 The style is a prolonged column arising from the ovary, and 

 supporting the stigma at its top. Fig. 6, e. 



The stigma is the upper extremity of the style, usually of a 

 globular form: ii may be either simple or compound, according 

 to the structure of the ovary and style. Fig 6, f. 



The ovules are minute globular bodies in the cells of the 

 ovary, which become the seeds of the matured fruit 



The placenta is a fleshy ridge within the cells of the ovary, 

 from which the ovules are developed, and to which they are 

 attached. 



There are several other secondary and minute parts, be- 

 longing to the flower, which it is not necessary or practicable 

 to describe here, as it would only burthen the memory with 

 technical terms which would convey but little useful know- 

 ledge. 



