114 



Elementary Botany 



which is known as the filament ;: the knob on the summit, 

 which is in reality a little box, the . anther ; and within this a 

 fine powder, the pollen, which is the essential part of the 

 stamen. 



These stamens may be either distinct, when they are said ' 

 to be free, as in thp Ranunculus (fig. 165), or they are more or 

 less united. 



If they are united by means of their filaments into one 

 bundle, whilst their anthers are free, as in the Mallow (fig. 206), 

 they are said to be monadelphous. 



Fig. 2og. — Syngenesious FiG. 210. — Stamens of 

 anthers of Thistle ; the Aristolochia sessile 



tilainents free. upon the stigma. 



Fig. 211. — Section of corolla 

 of Honeysuckle, with epi- 

 petalous stamens. 



If there be two bundles, as in the Sweet-pea (fig. 207), the 

 androeeium is diadelphous ; and if more than two bundles, as 

 in the Orange (fig. 208), polyadelphous. If the stamens are 

 attached together by means of their anthers, whilst the filaments 

 are free, as in the Thistle and other composite plants (fig. 209), 

 they are syngenesious. If the anthers are attached immedi- 

 ately upon the pistil, as in the Birthwort (fig. 210) and various 

 Orchids, they are gynandrous. 



With regard to the attachments of the stamens, we apply 

 the same terms which we used in describing the position of the 



