CHAPTER XXVII. 



DEGENEEA.CT OP FLOWERS (continued). 



Degeneracy of the Andececium. — The number of stamens 

 may decrease, as well as the quantity of pollen ; while the form 

 of the anthers may change and the character of the pollen 

 may alter ; and lastly, the position of the stamens may not 

 be the same as in intercrossing flowers, — all these forms of 

 degradation being so many adaptations or adjustments for 

 self-fertilisation. They are well seen in Violets and the 

 Wood-sorrel. 



As examples, in Stellaria Holostea there are ten stamens, 

 in S. media only three; and in cleistogamous Violets they 

 vary from five to three or two. In the latter, the anthers 

 become spoon-shaped with a rounded connective and much 

 reduced anther cells ; in the cleistogamous flowers of Oxalis 

 Acetosella the pollen is almost deliquescent. Lastly, in all 

 flowers especially adapted for self-fertilisation the anthers 

 are in contact with the stigmas in consequence of their arrest 

 in growth. 



It must be noted here that this degeneracy in the stamens 

 in no way impairs their functional value. The fact is that 

 a very small amount of pollen is really quite sufficient for 

 fertilising a considerable number of ovules. 



For convenience I call it degeneracy, but another view 

 would be to regard it as the conservation of energy, instead of 



