THE STAMEN. 125 



(ii). Five Stamens, alternating with the petals. 

 (Staged.) 



(iii). Centrally two Carpels. (Stage e.) 



II. Take a mature flower of Helleborus fcetidus. 

 Observe, and remove successively 



1. The five Sepals, polysepalous, regular, inferior, 

 and herbaceous. 



2. Petals, number various, polypetalous, tubular, 

 inferior. 



3. Stamens, numerous, hypogynous, free. 



4. Carpels, number various, apocarpous, superior. 

 Examine a single Stamen, and observe that it con- 

 sists of 



a. A thin stalk the Filament. 



1. A two-lobed head the Anther. 



In a fully open flower note the lateral, longitudinal 

 dehiscence of the anthers, and the dusty Pollen thus 

 liberated. 



Examine a single Carpel; it consists of a lower 

 thicker portion, terminated by a thin curved portion 

 (the Style) ; on the inner surface at the top of the 

 style is the Stigma. 



Slit a carpel open along the dorsal side, turn back 

 the flaps, and observe the numerous ovules, attached, 

 in two rows, to the ventral side of the carpel. 



STAMEN. 



III. All the following preparations should be made 

 from materials hardened in alcohol, or better, fixed 

 with saturated solution of picric acid, and then washed 

 and hardened with alcohol. 



A. Cut transverse sections of a flower bud of Helle- 



