66 



VIOLA. 



[CHAP. 



hollow spur (Fig. 57 /), the entrance to which is 

 protected partly by the stigma, partly by two tufts of 

 hairs, or rather of delicate lobular processes, situated 

 on the two median petals. The stamens consist of 

 a short filament, to which the anther is attached, and 

 a terminal membranous expansion, while the two 



FIG. 57- 



FIG. 58. 



FIG. 57. Section of a flower of Violet (Viola canina). 

 FIG. 58. Stamen of ditto. 



lower stamens also send out each a long spur 

 (Fig. 58 ri), which lies within the spur of the median 

 petal, and secretes honey at its fleshy end. The 

 terminal membranous expansions of the five stamens 

 slightly overlap one another, and their points touch 

 the pistil, so that they enclose a hollow space. The 

 pollen differs from that of most insect-fertilised 

 flowers, in being drier, and more easily detached 

 from the anthers ; consequently, when the latter 



