46 A HALF HOUR WITH THE 



certain forms of vascular tissue. In the anthers of 

 the common furze the fibres are well marked, and 

 are represented in figure 118, plate 5 ; in the 

 common hyacinth they are larger, and frequently 

 present, in their intercellular spaces, bundles of 

 raphides, as seen at Figure 119. In the white 

 dead-nettle the fibre is irregularly deposited, as at 

 figure 120. In the anthers of the narcissus, given 

 at figure 121, the cells are almost vascular in their 

 structure, and present the same appearance as 

 those described under the head of annular ducts. 

 The reader should compare figure 121, plate 5, 

 with figure 49, plate 2. In the crown imperial 

 the fibres of the cells radiate from a central point 

 in a stellate manner, as at figure 122. 



"When the anther-cases have been examined, a 

 little of the dust may be shaken on to a slide, and 

 examined as an opaque or a transparent object. 

 Each species of plant produces its own peculiar 

 form of pollen. These little grains are actual cells. 

 They are the cells of plants which in their position 

 in the anther will not grow any further. They are 

 destined to be carried into the pistil, where, meet- 

 ing with other cells, they furnish a stimulus to their 

 growth, and the embryo, or young plant, is pro- 

 duced. The history of the development of these 

 cells, as well as of those in the interior of the pistil, 

 is a very interesting one, and is one of those sub- 

 jects of investigation which has been created by 

 the aid of the Microscope. The pollen grains vary 

 in size as well as form. They are frequently oval, 

 as seen in figure 123, plate 5. In the hazel and 

 many of the grasses they are triangular. Those 

 from the hazel are represented at figure 124. In 

 the heath they are tri-lobed, as at figure 125 ; in 

 the dandelion, and many of the compositous order 

 of plants, they are beautifully sculptured, as seen 



