66 VEGETABLE ORGANOGRAPHY. 



have the filaments united into a tube, and the anthers 

 open by longitudinal fissures on the outside of it, a 

 phenomenon slightly resembling the structure of the 

 Cucurbitaceae. Salix monandra presents two stamens 

 united by the filaments and anthers. Morina persica 

 has four fertile stamens, joined two and two, in the same 

 way. Lastly, the Yew appears to have eight to ten 

 stamens united by the filaments and anthers, forming a 

 bundle which expands at the top, and bears the anthers 

 on its inner side ; this form of the filament some 

 authors have named Androphore. 



The stamens, as I have said above, always arise from 

 the torus very near from where the petals spring ; they 

 easily contract adhesions with these organs ; but these 

 adhesions are very frequent when the petals themselves 

 adhere together, and very rare when they are free. 

 Thus, in all gamopetalous corollas, the filaments are 

 united to them, except in the Campanulaceae, and in 

 polypetalous ones the stamens do not adhere to the 

 petals except in the Malvaceae, Caryophylleae, &c. and 

 then but slightly. 



As the function of the stamens is connected with their 

 being the male organs, it will be explained in detail in 

 the Physiology ; it is sufficient here to state that this 

 opinion, almost unanimously admitted, is founded, — 1st, 

 upon the examination of their structure ; 2d, upon the 

 fact that when flowers are deprived of them either 

 naturally, as in dioecious plants, or artificially, as in 

 those mutilated by insects, &c, they are constantly 

 sterile ; 3d, upon the mules or hybrids which are 

 produced when the pollen of one plant is applied to the 

 stigma of another. 





