60 



OBJECT LESSONS IN BOTANY. 



-M. 



two Imndred. Let us learn liow to dlstinguisli between 

 flowers with definite and witli indefinite stamens. Definite, 

 when thev are not more than ten, indefinite, when more than 

 ten, or not readily counted. 



107. The stamens are usually sepai'ate and distinct, as m 

 the Lily, Ehododendron, &c. (Figs. 150, 152), while in the 

 MalloAV (Fig. 179), Pea, and other flowers, they grow together, 

 forming a tube around the pistil ; in other words, they are 

 monadelphous (Greek, nionos, one, adeljyhos^ brotherhood). 

 The Pea, or Dielytra, is diadelphoiis, — the stamens in two 

 sets ; and the St. J ohnswort, poli/adel^/ious, — in three or more 

 sets. Another mode of cohesion is seen in the floret of Dan- 

 delion (Fig. 180), where the cmihers cohere while the fila- 

 ments are distinct, i. 6., syngenecioiis. 



108. In two cases we may definitely mark the relative 

 length of the stamens. Didyn'amous stamens (as seen in the 

 Mint tribe, and in the Figworts, Fig. 181) are four in num- 



Fig. 183. Pistillate flower of Balm of Gilead. 



Fig. 184. Staminate flower of the same. 



Fig. 185. Begonia: a, staminate flower; &, pistillate flower. 



107. Define "stamens monadelplious." Give examples. Diadelphous. 

 Give examples. Polyadelphous. Example. Define " stamens syngenecious.'' 

 Mention examples 



