152 THE VEGETABLE WORLD. 
short, which is called the style, and is analogous to the mid-rib in 
leaves. The style carries a glandular appurtenance on its summit, 
destined to receive the pollen-grains, and to help fecundation ; 
this is the stigma. : 
The style is not a solid cylinder, as we might think at first 
sight; on the contrary, its axis forms a sort of canal leading into 
the ovary, and descending to the vicinity of the ovules. The 
stigma, which is the upper part of the pistil, is very variable in 
form ; it is essentially formed by a mass of thin, transparent cells, 
loosely united and coated over with a gummy, mucilaginous matter. 
It is thus perfectly well fitted to receive and retain the pollen-grains. - 
The carpels have a greater tendency than the more external 
- organs to unite with each other: this is, n0 
doubt, either owing to their proximity, or to 
the pressure of the external organs, assisted 
by their position in regard to each other. 
» } This junction takes place either by the 
a _ ovaries alone, or by the ovaries, styles, and 
w stigmas, or by the stigmas alone. 
en two or more carpels are united by 
means of the ovaries, an ovary results com- 
posed of several partial ones, there being 8 
Fig. 214.—Pistil of Fetid Many cells as there were carpels at first. In 
capes the Bastard Hellebore (Fig. 214) the june- 
tion of the ovaries takes place at the base only ; m the Corn-cockle 
(Fig. 215), about half way up. But most fre- 
quently the junction takes place at the summit. 
When the styles are joined together, at least 
in some observable portions of their length, there 
results from this cohesion a style single in ap- 
pearance, but in reality constituted by as many 
partial styles as there were carpels. In this 
case the number of free stigmas will, if they are 
simple, indicate the number of cells in the ovary: 
The partial stigmas may also unite, and constitute 
pais -Ovnes of 2 8 stigma, in appearance single, but often - 
us """ divided as to indicate by the number of its 
divisions the number of carpels constituting the pistil. The 
