174 



HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OP PLANTS. 



ANT 



the older botanists to various plants 

 which they could not readily compare 

 with any one that had a name already. 



A nterior. Refers both to time and position. 

 In the latter application those parts are 

 anterior which are placed in front of 

 others, or outwardly, with respect to the 

 axis about which they are arranged. 



Anther. The male part of a flower, con- 

 taining the fecundating matter; the case 

 which contains the pollen of a plant; the 

 terminal hollow of a stamen. 



Antheridia. The male organs or stamens. 



Antheriferous. Bearing anthers. 



Aniherifarm. Having the form of anthers. 



Antheroid. Resembling an anther. 



Antheromania. An unnatural development 

 of stamens. This may take place with- 

 out any detriment to the plant As thfe 

 petals are multiplied, the stamens are 

 usually multiplied ; but where the sta- 

 mens are epigynoxis, (which see,) or upon 

 the ovary, the addition will sometimes 

 materially disturb the normal construc- 

 tion of the flower. In some double flow- 

 ers the apparent multiplication of the 

 petals is really a multiplication of the 

 stamens ; and as such petaloid stamens 

 are generally devoid of anthers, the fer- 

 tility of the plant may in consequence be 

 affected. 



Anthocarpous. Composed of flowers and 

 fruit blended into a solid mass, as in the 

 Pineapple. 



Anthoceridece, (Anthoceros.) A small nat- 

 ural order and genus of Liverworts, dis- 

 tinguished by the capsule, which is 

 threaded by a linear columella, (which 

 see,) bursting longitudinally on one or 

 both sides, and by the fronds being with- 

 out the pores which are so conspicuous in 

 Marchantiacece. It consi sts of about three 

 genera only, which occur in different 



ANT 



parts of the world, one of which, Carpo- 

 boliti*, is remarkable for the absence of 

 the spiral vessels or elaters in the cap- 

 sule, that are so characteristic of the 

 tribe. Two species, Anthoceros Icevis and 

 A. punctatus, occur on the ground in Eng- 

 land, principally in the eastern counties. 

 No species bears anything like the true 

 leaves of the higher Jungermanrdce. 



Anthocyane. The blue coloring matter of 

 plants. 



Anthodium. The head of flowers or capit- 

 ulurn of Composites. 



Antholysis. The retrograde metamorphosis 

 of a flower; as when carpels change to 

 stamens, stamens to petals, petals to 

 sepals, and sepals to leaves, more or less 

 completely. 



Anthoptosis. Most flowers are mere tempo- 

 rary organs, which, when they have per- 

 formed their functions, are destined to 

 fall In many cases, however, the flowers 

 fall before impregnation has taken place, 

 or shortly after, involving with them the 

 pistil, and so inducing sterility. This 

 may arise from various causes, as excess 

 or want of moisture, but more frequently 

 from late frosts or cold winds. In many 

 instances the fall of the flower naturally 

 follows impregnation, and cannot be re- 

 garded as a disease ; indeed, the time of 

 its fall seems to depend upon the process 

 of fertilization, for even in cases where 

 the flowers naturally fade very rapidly, 

 their duration may be prolonged by pre- 

 venting the access of pollen to the style. 



Anthoxanthine. The yellow coloring mat- 

 ter of plants. 



Antica/. Placed in front of a flower, the 

 front being regarded as the part most re- 

 mote from the axis. Thus, the lip of an 

 Orchis is antical. 



Antitropal. Same as Orihotropal^ which see. 



