THE STAMENS. 



The Stamens. We now enter upon the description of the essential parts of the 

 flower viz., the sexual organs, cr those parts concerned in the process of reproduction. 

 All the organs which have hitherto heen described are accidental, and not essential, 

 since many plants are met with without them, and since their sole duty is to minister 

 to the wants of these central and ultimate objects of vegetable organization. No plant 

 exists which has not organs of reproduction of a higher or a lower grade of organiza- 

 tion ; whilst many are wanting in every other accessory structure. 



The stamens are placed within the corolla, and immediately surround the central 

 point or pistil, and are regarded as the male organs 

 of reproduction. When longer than the corolla, they 

 are said to be exserted (Fig. 215) ; and when shorter, 

 they are included (Fig. 214). Their number is very 

 variable, from one to fifty, and even more ; and from 

 the causes already mentioned (page 112), it is not 

 permanent in the same plant, or the same class of 

 plants. It is, however, commonly the same as the 

 ' petals and sepals ; or, if it vary, it is a multiple of 

 that number (Fig. 215). They may constitute one 

 whorl only, which will consist of an equal or double 

 number of the petals, and if of the same number, they 

 will be alternate with them ; or there may be several 

 whorls, all of which lie nearer and nearer to the 

 pistil, and follow the same law as the outer whorl. 

 It is not an unusual occurrence to find the stamens 

 placed opposite to, and not alternate with, the petals, 

 or with an inner whorl of themselves ; but this is an 

 abnormal condition, and arises from the suppression of alternate individuals or whorls. 

 This may be readily understood by reference to Fig. 206, in which the stamens are 

 double the number of the petals ; 

 so that each alternate stamen in 

 the whorl will be alternate with, 

 and each other stamen opposite 

 to, the petal. If, therefore, these 

 stamens be removed, or placed 

 in an inner whorl, which are 

 opposite to the petals, the sta- 

 mens will then be alternate with *"te-216. Shonringaplan 



of a double row of sta- 



the petals ; and thus the normal mens, c, arranged al- 

 ii*. 21S.-With double the number number and position of the parts ^ tely * ith . * he - 

 of exserted stamens to the petals. c ,, a selves, and with the 



oi tne nower be produced. J3ut petals, b, and sepals, . 



if, on the other hand, the euppressed stamens are the alternate and not the opposite 

 ones, the flower will become more abnormal by the alteration. 



The stamens are also necessarily placed on a plane lower than that of the pistil or 

 ovary, and, therefore, must be inferior, as represented in Fig. 203. But not ^infrequently 

 they are said to be superior, from the attachment which they contract with the sides of 

 the ovary (Fig. 204). Three Greek terms have been devised to express this apparent 

 relation in position between the stamens and the pistil viz., Hypogynous, as in the 

 Poppy, when normally placed below the ovary (Fig, 225) ; Epigynous, when growing 



Fig. 214. 



a, the central pistil. 



b, the stamens included. 

 e, the corolla. 



d, the calyx. 



