PISTTL. n 



Pistils. 



In the centre of the flower stands the pistil, an organ essentia] to 

 the continued existence of the plant. 'Like the stamens, the pistils 

 vary in number in'difterent plants, some having but one, and others 

 hundreds. Linnceus founded the orders of his first twelve classes 

 on the number of these organs. When they are more than ten, he 

 did not rely upon their number, which in this case is found to vary 

 in individuals of the same genus. 



The pistil consists of three parts, the germ, style, and stigma. It 

 may be compared to a pillar; the germ, (Fig. 82, a,) corresponding 

 to the base; the style (6,) to the shaft; and the stigma (e,) to the 

 capital. 



Fif. 82, The figure at(g-) represents the pistil of 



the poppy, the germ or base is very large ; 

 you will perceive that the style is want- 

 ing, and the stigma is sessile, or placed 

 immediately on the germ. The style is 

 not an essential part, but the stigma and 

 germ are never wanting; so that these 

 tvvo parts, as in the poppy, often consti- 

 tute a pistil. 



Germ. The germ, or ovary, contains the 

 rudiments of the fruit, or (ovules,) yet in 

 an embryo state. A distinction is to be made between the germ 

 here spoken of, and the germ of the bud.* This germ in the flov^'er, 

 is the future fruit, though in passing to maturity it undergoes a grea't 

 change. You would scarcely believe tliat the pumpkin was once but 

 the germ of a small yellow flower. The germ is said to be superior, 

 when placed above the calyx, as in the strawberry ; inferior, when 

 below it, as in the apple. The figure of the germ is roundish in some 

 plants, cordate and angled in others ; but its various forms can bet- 

 ter be learned by observation than description. 



Style. This, hke the filament, is sometimes wanting; when pres- 

 ent, it proceeds from the germ, and bears the stigma on its summit. 

 It is usually long and slender, of a cylindrical form, consisting of 

 bundles of fibres, which transmit to the germ, from the stigma, the 

 fertilizing pollen. 



Stigma. This word signifies perfecting. The stigmia is the top of 

 the pistil, and always present ; if the style be wanting, it is placed 

 upon the germ, and said to be sessile, as in the tulip. The stigma is 

 ■'-arious in size and form ; som.etimes it is a round head ; sometimes 

 nollow and gaping, more especially when the flower is in its highest 

 perfection ; it is generally downy, and always more or less moist, 

 vni\\ a pecuUar, viscid fluid. 



You have, in the following page, a representation of the pistils of 

 several different genera of plants, most of which are magni- 



* In strict scientific language, the base of the pistil is the ovary, and the germ of the 

 bud is the gemma. 



Pistil, situation and number— Orders founded upon the pistil— Parts of the pistil— 

 Germ— S tyle— S tism a. 

 7* 



