SPIRAL FIBRE. 23 



tribe, with its single-leaved calyx and corolla, wheel-shaped, 

 deeply cleft into fine segments, fine slender filaments and 

 heart-shaped anthers, one-thread-shaped and clubhed 

 stigma. With the same lens you can examine the seed- 

 vessel, a little globular capsule opening all round, and, 

 raising the lid, observe the most beautiful dotted seeds 

 lying closely pressed to the pitted receptacle ; and this, if 

 once seen, will not be forgotten. Take it now to the 

 microscope, and, with a low power, first look at one of the 

 coloured segments of the corolla. Press it lightly in a 

 drop of water under a bit of glass, and you will then see 

 that the edge of the petal is fringed with little bell-like 

 glands, purple and white, and that hues of deeper colour 

 radiate from the base of the petal. Put on a higher power, 

 and you will find these are exquisite spiral vessels ; not 

 one only, but many in each line, short, and joined to each 

 other by a delicate dove-tailing process. Think of the 

 mechanism in that one small leaf, and those little oil 

 cells fringing it so prettily, doubtless for use as well as 

 beauty. Then take off one stamen and look at in the 

 same way. Half way up the slender white stem are purple 

 hairs, each jointed and like a row of tiny amethysts : above 

 is the heart-shaped anther, with its golden store of pollen 

 grains, out of each of which will flow the life-giving germ 

 to the future seed. Take the style and stigma, and 

 examine them next ; you will not soon be weary of the 

 sight. Most likely you will find some pollen grains upon 

 the stigma throwing down their tubes invisibly ; for this 

 is only seen with a high power, and by making a very thin 

 section of a short style, such as that of a Cistus, or a Chick- 

 weed. 



After such an examination, that little flower will never 

 be seen with the same careless eye which for years had 

 passed it by unheeded, because unconscious of its beauty. 



SPIRAL FIBRE. 



Many specimens of these are sold prepared for the micro- 

 scope, especially the following : 



