PISTIL. 39 



bodies is not only, in some cases, endowed with motion 

 which might be denominated molecular, or that might 

 arise from currents in the fluid in which they are con- 

 tained, but have, according to Meyen and others, a dis- 

 tinct worm-like or writhing motion, folding one por- 

 tion upon another of themselves. These are by some 

 thought to be spermatic animalcules ; others regard them 

 in the same light as they do the smaller bodies, namely, 

 that they are composed of fecular or gummy and some- 

 times oily matter. 



212. Upon contact of the grains of pollen with the 

 female organ, the inline protrudes itself in the form of 

 a membranous tube through which the fovilla passes to 

 its destined situation. This pollen tube (/), will be 

 spoken of under Physiology. 



213. In regard to the minute structure of the parts 

 of the male organ, we may remark, that the filament is 

 composed of a bundle of very fine fibrous and vascular 

 tissue, enveloped in a covering of cellular or parenchy- 

 matous structure. The anther is almost destitute of 

 true vascular tissue, but possesses a peculiar modifica- 

 tion of fibre which we spoke of before. According to 

 Meyen, this fibre in the endothecium, (or lining portion 

 of the anther), does not exist during the first period of 

 the evolution of the organ, but is formed afterwards, 

 and it is supposed to be instrumental in effecting its 

 dehiscence. For further information upon all points 

 connected with this subject, the reader, if a German 

 scholar, is referred to the third volume of Meyen's 

 Pflanzen Physiologic. 



214. In the centre of the stamens is placed the pistil, 

 the female organ of the flowering plants, and the organ 

 forming the conclusion of the plant's axis. 



215. The pistil ordinarily consists of three portions, 

 (see fig. 31), where (c) is the ovarium, (d) the style, and 

 (e) the stigma. 



216. The style is not essential; sometimes the stigma 

 being seated at once upon the top of the ovarium, which 

 is then sessile, as in the Poppy. 



