AND THEIR SYSTEMATICAL ARRANGEMENT. II3 



habit of dissolving, proves clearly that they ought 

 not to be considered as the anthers themselves, 

 as they hitherto have been ; but as the genituia, 

 or impregnating substance analogous to pollen. 

 With regard to their nature and the humour con- 

 tained in them> they have some resemblance to the 

 Asckpiadea^ the male parts of which display a 

 construction equally uncommon. 



The style ascends, as it is before said, from the 

 germ, within the corolla, bearing the male parts 

 fastened to or connate with it ; and therefore it is 

 to be considered as the common receptacle of both 

 the sexual parts. On account of its remarkable 

 thickness and shape, as well as the singularity and 

 situation of the stigma, it deserves a peculiar 

 denomination distinct from stylus.* 



The stigma of the Orchidere, a part as import- 

 ant as the germ, has been but little understood. 

 Linnjeus's idea of it I venture to pronounce erro- 



• That many botanists have been of the same opinion, appears from 

 the numbers of names given to this part ; such as tuba ; scapus stamineus, 

 spermaticus.tubx ; machina staminca, fructificationis, prolifera, seminalN, 

 foecundans; columna stamiuum, staminifcra, genitalium, foecundans ; ma. 

 chinula, Sec. 



H 



