64 



OEGANOGRAPHY AND GLOSSOLOGY. 



descends towards and abuts on the contiguous cells of two adjacent anthers. These 

 furrows contain a soft viscid fluid, secreted by the rectinacula ; this fluid extends 

 from the retinacula to the pollen-masses ; soon the two retinacula unite and solidify, 

 and the viscid fluid in the furrows solidifying at the same time, forms a double fila- 

 ment. This filament in hardening unites the two pollen-masses contained in the 

 contiguous cells of two adjacent anthers, which thus form one body with the reti- 

 naculum, and remain suspended to it, much as the scales of a balance are suspended 

 to the beam. 



THE PISTIL. 



The pistil or gynoecium (pistillum, gynoecium) is the whorl which crowns the 

 receptacle and occupies the centre of the flower, of which it terminates the giowth, 

 just as the whole flower terminates the flowering branch. 



In most cases, the pistil is inserted directly on the receptacle ; but in some 

 cases the internode from which it springs lengthens, when it is called a gynophore 

 (gynophorum), and the pistil is said to be stipitate (Fraxinella, fig. 362 ; Rue, 

 fig. 363). 



The leaves composing the pistils are the carpels (carpella, carpidia) ; their 

 number varies ; they may form a single whorl (Sedum, 

 Columbine, Thalictrum,fig. 364) ; or several (Trollius, 

 fig. 365), or be solitary, by the suppression of one 



3(12. Fraxinclla. 

 PUtil and calyx. 



864. Thalictrum. 

 Pii-til. 



366. Blaftler Senna. 

 PtatU. 



or more (Bladder Senna, figs. 366, 367 ; Peach, fig. 368). Under certain circumstances, 

 the suppressed carpels may be developed, and complete the whorl (Cherry, fig. 369), 

 which has then two carpels ; or, as in some Mimosas, which have 

 three to five, &c. The pistil is said to be mono- bi- poly-carpellari/, 



according as there are one, 

 two, or many carpels. 



In the very young 

 pistil, each carpel makes 

 its appearance as a small 

 round or pointed, more or 

 less spreading scale, the 

 edges of which gradually 

 approach, and finally unite 

 and form a closed cavity ; or, instead of uniting together, they may adhere to the 



3G7. Bladder Senna. 

 Pistil cut vertically. 



368. Peach. Pistil, portion 

 of calyx and andro?cium. 



369. Cherry. 

 Pistil with two carpels. 



