THE EVOLUTION OF THE FLOWER 125 



is pushed still further, it will be found that the 

 petals become even more narrow, until they are 

 strange linear processes which it is difficult to 

 call by any name. At last one will be discovered 

 which appears to be curiously thickened at the 

 point, and if the termination of the organ be 

 closely examined the presence of a small amount 

 of pollen may be detected. The termination of 

 this process, which can be called neither petal 

 nor stamen, continues to be more and more 

 modified as we near the centre of the flower, until 

 it is resolved into two thickened parts, to be 

 recognised as the anthers. When this stage is 

 reached the petal-like lower part disappears and 

 a slender thread takes its place, thus forming the 

 filament, which goes to the making of the typical 

 stamen. In the central rows of stamens it is 

 not possible to discover the least resemblance 

 between the petals and the male reproductive 

 organs. 



The Water Lily is not the only flower in which 

 the intimate connection between the petal and 

 the stamen may be traced ; something on much 

 the same lines is to be seen in the case of certain 

 species of Peony, and other instances might be 

 cited. It is hardly necessary, however, to bring 

 forward further proof that the relationship 



