POLLEN, OR FLOWER-DUST 93 



it will be seen, bears an individuality, is in fact a 

 perfect little translucent sphere ; but this is not 

 all, for, when highly magnified, each is studded 

 over with regular spiny projections after the 



Fig. 58. Spiny pollen-grains of the hollyhock 



manner of the hollyhock pollen-grains shown in 

 Fig. 58. As the mallow family present very fine 

 examples of stamens and pollen, I have given a 

 further example of a cluster of ripe stamens from 

 a common mallow in Fig. 59. 



The curious external markings, spines, sculp- 

 turings, and roughened surfaces, and the geo- 

 metrical forms assumed by the various kinds of 

 pollen, not only provide beautiful objects for 



