618 



THiRSK NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. [November, 



are not so numerous either as the pollen-grains in the anther- 

 lobes of perfect flowers^ for the lobes are smaller, and the grains 

 less crov/ded. 



In the fertilized flowers the anthers had opened from the top, 

 and from the two pores in each anther fine threads passed into 

 the cavity in the stigma peculiar to this family, and thence into 

 the fruit. When I tore the anthers from the stigma, short ends 

 of thread remained attached to both. Dissection of the pollen- 

 sac (anther-lobe) showed that the threads proceeded from pollen- 

 grains [pollen-ovules I should rather say), closely attached to its 

 inner surface. 



I must further add that fertilization takes place in the very 

 small, unopened bud ; that it proceeds quickly, and that shortly 

 after the capsule increases rapidly in size, and protrudes from the 

 (till then) tightly closed calyx. 



The accompanying figures will better exemplify this structure. 



Fig. I. A capsule, with an an- 

 ther, a shows the bent pistil ; 

 h, the two anther-lobes ; c, the 

 leaf-like prolongation of the fila- 

 ment ; d, the capsule. 



Fig. 2. The capsule, with the 

 two stamens, the latter separated 

 at the base. The anther, a a, is 

 reversed ; the other hangs at the 

 side. 



Fig. 3 slaows the two anthers 

 torn from the stigma after fei-ti- 

 lization. 



Fig. 4, the same before it has 

 taken place. 



These figm-es may serve for V. 

 elatior and lancifolia, and pro- 

 bably for many other species. 



THIRSK NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 



Botanical Exchange Club. 



The monthly meeting of the Thirsk Natural History Society 



ATas held on the evening of Wednesday, the 6th of October. 



Mr. J. G-. Baker communicated the following notes upon the 



summer botany of Swaledale : — 



