VEGETATIVE REPRODUCTION. 



199 



containing the ovules, surmounted by (2) a slender part of 

 variable length, the style, which is terminated by (3) a rough, 

 sticky, or branched part, the j/z^fwa. (See figs. 152,156.) 



283. Stigma and style. — The stigma may take the form 

 of a knob, a ridge, a straight or wavy line, or be lobed or 

 branched. However compact, it is usually roughened by 

 the prolongation of its surface cells into rounded, pointed, or 

 hair-like extensions (fig. 154), which frequently secrete a 

 sticky fluid. Its purpose is to secure 

 the adhesion of the pollen spores 

 brought to it by various agents, among 

 the most important of which are the 

 wind and insects. 



The style may be thick or slender, 

 long or short; branched or unbranched, 

 hollow or solid. It is frequently 

 wanting. 



284. Simple and compound pistils. 

 — When several carpels are present in 

 one flower they may form as many 

 separate simple pistils as there are 

 carpels. If numerous, the axis will 

 be enlarged or elongated to accom- 

 modate them. (See ^ 296, and fig. 

 173.) Instead of forming separate 

 pistils, the carpels may be united to form a single compound 

 pistil. 



The union of the carpels may be only at the base; or it 



Fig. 154.— One of the hairs 

 from the stigma of com 

 cockle {Lychnis githa^o) 

 to which a pollen grain ad- 

 heres. The pollen tube has 

 penetrated the hair and is 

 making its way down the 

 style. Magnified 175 diam. 

 — After Strasburger. 



the ovules (= little eggs) were like the eggs of birds, an idea which was 

 further carried out in the name albumen given to the food stored in the 

 seed. (See \ 305.) To avoid confusion with the true ovary in which 

 the real egg is produced, I use the name ovulary — i.e., the organ which 

 produces ovules. The word ovule, though as bad in etymology as 

 ovary, is convenient, and does not lead to any confusion. 



