WAYSIDE WEEDS. 



55 



organs wMcli, along with, the pistil, constitute the 

 essential reproductive organs. You have already 

 examined conunon plants enougli to be aware tliat 

 the stamens are not by any means definite in 

 number, but occur in every proportion, from the 

 many of the buttercup or rose to tbe few of the 

 wallflower or the umbeUifer. But if varied in 

 number, they are far from being so in form (Fig. 

 40). The filament, or support of the anther, may 



Fia. 40, — Stamen, a, anther ; &, filament ; e pollen. 



be absent without injury to the utility of the organ ; 

 in other words, the antber is the essential part. 

 Examine the latter attentively, using a lens if 

 possible. You will quickly see that almost inva- 

 riably this anther is composed of two lobes j and 

 if von extend your observations, you will see that 

 from each of these lobes, which are in reality little. 

 pouches, is discharged a fine yeUow dust. Shake 

 your flowers over a dark, surface, and if the anthers 



