370 POLLEN. 



CHAPTER XXXVI. 

 POLLEN. 



POLLEN and Farina, in the language of Botanists, 

 are terms applied to the powdery particles dis- 

 charged by the anthers of flowers in warm dry 

 weather, and which hang about the stamina. The 

 colour, as well as the structure of pollen, varies 

 in different plants. Its use, in fecundating the 

 germens of flowers, is well known : the services 

 of bees, towards that end, will be noticed in a 

 separate chapter. The sixth volume of the Lin- 

 nean Transactions contains an interesting paper 

 upon this substance, from the pen of MR. LUKE 

 HOWARD. 



Pollen has a capsular structure, varying its 

 shape in different flowers, insomuch as to be a 

 popular object for the microscope. Each grain 

 consists commonly of a membranous bag, which, 

 when it has come to maturity, bursts on the ap- 

 plication of moisture : this bursting is naturally 

 effected by the honey-like exudation of the stigma ; 

 but if extraneous moisture accomplish it prema- 

 turely, the pollen is rendered useless for the pur- 

 pose of fructification. Whenever moistened, the 

 bag explodes with great force, and discharges a 

 subtile vapour or essence, which, when released 



