THE WHITE LILY 151 



the successive whorls of three alternate regularly with 

 each other (see Figs. 56 and 78). 



The stamens have long filaments and large versatile 

 anthers, i.e. the filament in the mature state is attached 

 to the anther near its middle, so that the anther 

 swings freely upon the filament. In all essentials the 

 structure of the stamen is like that of the Wallflower, 

 but its large size in the Lily makes it much more 

 favourable for study. The anther consists of a con- 

 nective and four pollen-sacs. Here, as in our former 

 type, the two pollen-sacs on the same side of the 

 anther become fused when it is ripe, so that the 

 mature anther has only two cavities. Here also the 

 anther is introrse, i.e. it opens on its inner side. 



In the middle of the flower is the pistil. The ovary 

 is cylindrical and ribbed, the style about twice as long 

 as the ovary and surmounted by a large three-lobed 

 stigma (see Fig. 82, p. 18 2), the velvety surface of which 

 is visible even without a lens. The pistil is syncarpous, 

 the carpels three in number, and alternate with the 

 inner whorl of stamens. The ovary is three-celled ; the 

 ovules are numerous, and are inserted in two rows 

 in each cell, arising from its inner angle; in other 

 words, the placentation is axile (see Figs. 56 

 and 78). 



If we suppose each of the carpels folded inwards 

 until its edges meet, and then all three carpels closely 

 joined laterally, the united edges of all three meeting at 

 the middle, we shall have a good idea of the structure 

 of the ovary, though not one which is strictly accurate 

 according to the development. In this ovary, as in 



