FERTILIZATION. 163 



anther-cells open by traverse dehiscence in the form of an 

 operculum or lid, (Fig. 68.) 



Kg. 66. Tig. 67. 



The mechanical application of the pollen to the stigma is 

 sometimes secured by certain relative adjustments of the 

 organs. Thus when the stamens and pistils are situated in 

 separate flowers on the same plant, the staminate flowers are 

 generally situated above the pistillate. The Indian corn 

 exemplifies this arrangement. It is well known that the 

 flowering panicle at the summit of the stem does not produce 

 corn ; these are the staminiferous flowers, from whose anthers 

 descend clouds of pollen on the thread-like pistils, forming the 

 silky tuft beneath. Without this pollen, the corn in the lower 

 spike W-. uld not ripen ; hence the evident design of nature in 

 placing the pistillate below the staminate spike of flowers. 



In pendulous and upright flowers, the filaments of the 

 stamens and the style of the pistil are so developed as to bring 

 the anthers and stigma into the most favorable relative position 

 for communicating with each other. This is beautifully exem- 

 plified in the ladies ear-drop, (Fuchsia.) Within the pendulous 

 corolla of this flower, we have an adjustment of the sexual 

 organs with an evident reference to their mutual action on 

 each other. The filaments of the stamens are short and the 



