68 



THE ANDROECIUM 



base, called Petaloid when assuming the form of a petal, as in Fig. 155 

 A similar appendage may stand in front of a stamen. One standing in 

 front of a stamen group has been shown in Fig. 37. Appendages may 

 be developed at a higher point in other cases. Appendages in the form 

 of teeth or hairs are very common. 



Modifications of the Connective. — Modifications of the connective are 

 numerous and remarkable. The thickening of its entire body, equally 

 or unequally, produces such appearances as are seen in Figs. 15G, 157, 

 and 159. Or the extension may result in elongation either above or 

 below the thecae, instead of in broadening. 



/SS. 2S6 ISZ IMJ60 



Fig. 155. Petaloid appendage to filament of Chaetostoma. 156, 157, and 159. Anthers with the con- 

 nective broadened so as to separate the thecae. 158. The same with the broadened connective forked. 

 160. Stamen with connective extended between the apex of the filament (a) and the base of the anther 

 (6). 161. The same, with an appendage at base of connective. 162 and 163. The appendage with 

 scarcely any elongation of connective. 16-4. Forked connective of Salvia, each branch bearing one of 

 the thecae. 



Basal Appendages. — If the extension is downward, it will lead to an 

 apparent jointing of the filament (Fig. 160), the space between a and b 

 being such a downwardly produced extension of the connective. A 

 slight bulbous enlargement at the base may be modified into the most 

 grotesque forms, as shown in Figs. 161 to 163. Such appendages, in 

 every detail of number, form, position, and direction, are characteristic, 

 and in a family like the Melastomaceae, from which most of the above 

 illustrations are taken, possess generic value. Instead of elongating 

 as a single body, the base may* apparently divide longitudinally, through 

 extreme broadening, resembling a forked filament, one theca borne on 

 each branch (Figs. 158 and 164.) 



One-celled Anthers. — When one of the thecae then becomes suppressed, 

 its connective branch remaining (Fig. 165) or even disappearing (Fig. 

 166), one of the forms of the one-celled anther results. Another form 

 is produced by simple abortion, without any such modification of the 

 connective, or it may result from the disappearance of the connective. 



