74 STAMENS. 



in the fig-tree. Although in the case of plants whose stamens and 

 pistils are on separate flowers, we see this advantage arising from 

 the fact of insects being attracted by the honey, yet the greater 

 number of plants do not need any assistance in conveying pollen to 

 the stigmas. Some imagine that honey contributes to the perfection 

 of the stamens : but plants that do not appear to secrete honey, have 

 perfect stamens. One thing, however, is certain with respect to this 

 fluid, that without detriment to the plant, it yields to the industrious 

 bee the material for the manufacture of honey, a luxury highly 

 valued from the most ancient times. Virgil knew that bees made 

 honey from the juices which they gathered from flowers ; and we 

 indeed, on this subject, know but little more than he has beautifully 

 expressed in his pastorals. 



Although we are ever discovering something new and wonderful 

 in the economy of nature ; and, in some cases, seem permitted to 

 search into the hidden mysteries of her great Author, yet in our re- 

 searches we are continually made sensible of the limited nature of 

 our own faculties ; and a still, small voice, seems to whisper to man, 

 in the proudest triumphs of his reason, " Hitherto shalt thou go, but 

 no farther." 



LECTURE XIII. 



STAMENS AND PISTILS. 



Although the calyx and the corolla may be wanting, the stamens 

 and pistils are indispensable to the perfection of the fruit. They are 

 in most plants enclosed by the same envelope, or stand on the same 

 receptacle ; in the class Moncscia they are on different flowers which 

 spring from one common root; and in Dioscia, they are on ditferent 

 flowers, springing from different roots. Yet, however distant the 

 stamens and pistils may be, nature has provided ways by which the 

 pollen from the staminate flowers may be conveyed to the pistillate, 

 and there assist in perfecting the seed. That you may the better 

 understand this curious process, and the organs by means of which 

 it is carried on, we will examine each one separately. 



Stamens. 



Stamens are thread-like parts which are exterior with respect to 

 the pistil, and interior to the coroUa. They exhibit a variety, of po- 

 sitions with respect to the pistil. These positions seldom varj^- in 

 the same family, and they have therefore been taken by the cele- 

 brated Jussieu as one of the fundamental distinctions in his classifi- 

 cation, called the " Natural method." If the stamens are inserted 

 upon the pistil, as in umbelliferous plants, they are said to be epigy- 

 nous (from epi, upon, and gynia, pistil;) if the stamens are inserted 

 under the germ, as in cruciform plants, they are said to be hypogy- 

 nous (from hypo, under, and gynia, pistil;) when the stamens are in- 

 serted upon the calyx, and thus stand around the germ, as in the ro- 

 saceous plants, they are said to be perigynous, (from|jer/, around, and 

 gynia, pistil.) 



When a corolla is monopetalous, the number of the stamens is, 

 Msually, either equal, double, or half thatof the divisioi^s of the corollaj 

 'he stamens in such flowei^s never exceed twenty. 



Reflections— Stamens and pistils necessary to the perfection of the fruit— Defini- 

 tions of tlie stamen— Positions with respect to the pistil— Divisions of nionopetaioua 

 lorollas usually in proportion to the number of stamens. 



