PiM — On the Hairs of the Andrcecium. 421 



A. tenella from those of Tradescantia, Each link resembles a 

 dumb-bell, with prominences at each extremity like the articula- 

 tions of a bone ; in fact the hair is strikingly similar to a chain of 

 metacarpal or metatarsal bones. Moreover, each link has a series of 

 delicate spiral striae, giving it a twisted appearance. The terminal 

 cell is divided into a number of rounded lobes, recalling somewhat 

 an ear of Indian corn. I next examined other species of Anagallis, 

 all of which afforded stamen hairs, but none approaching in beauty 

 or complexity to those of A. tenella. 



It would obviously be out of the question to examine every 

 flower to be met with, wild and in cultivation, as to the presence or 

 absence of androecial hairs. I may, however, state that I have 

 examined a good many, and so far the occurrence of these hairs 

 is so irregular as to baflle anything like generalization. Thus 

 Thunbergia alata has most curious hairs of two distinct forms, while 

 the nearly allied T. fragans is destitute of them. Justicia speciosa 

 has hairy stamens ; in J. Jlavicoma they are glabrous. Hairs may 

 occur either scattered over the surface of the filament, or be con- 

 fined to the anther and the base of the filament, near its point of 

 insertion : if the anther is hairy, there is usually a little tuft also 

 at the base of the filament, but the latter is met with without the 

 former in Antirrhinum maj'us. 



When hairs are met with in several species of a genus, or of allied 

 genera, there is commonly observable a strong likeness running 

 through them, they being, as it were, variations of the same type. 

 For example, all the Oonvolvulacese which have come under my 

 observation have hairs consisting of great numbers of cells, form- 

 ing a regular tissue, but terminated in every case by a very large 

 cell, which varies both in size and shape with the particular 

 species. 



In very many instances, but not in all, the surface of the hair 

 is somewhat roughened, either by being branched, striated, warted, 

 or in some other way destined to hold and retain any pollen grains 

 that may fall from the anthers, and so preserve them from the 

 secretions of the plant itself, or other moisture which would tend 

 to prematurely excite its development, at the same time not pre- 

 venting insects from carrying it away. 



I am not in a position as yet to enter into the physiological 

 portion of the question, but I wish merely to draw attention to the 



