ANTHER. 



83 



(ho leaf, wlulc the lohes are formed hy its lamina, folded so as 

 to form its cells. The variations in form of the anther, arc 

 verv numerous : but by strict observation every variety of 



appearance it may assume, may be ac- 

 counted for on the i)rinciple that it con- 

 sists, in its normal state, of two parallel 

 cells, formed by the folding of the lami- 

 na of the leaf, and these cells connected 

 as in the leaf, hy the midrib. The true 

 type of the anther, then, is two length- 

 ened parallel cells, (connected together,) 

 opening by a longitudinal suture cor- 

 responding to the margin of the leaf of 

 which the anther is composed. It some- 

 times happens ihat the septum is absorb- 

 ed or not developed, when it is one celled, 

 as seen in fig. 101, a; at other times one 

 half of the lamina seems not to be de- 

 veloped, and a one celled anther is the 

 result, as in the Canna. Sometimes the 

 connectivum spreads out at its summit, 

 R- the lobes instead of being parallel as- 

 ^^--j^_ sume every degree of inclination. In 

 ^010'^K^ ^^ the Monarda they are at riglit angles, 

 ^""l/ ^ and should the points of the lobes grow 

 together, as in the Mallora, \\q h.ave a 

 one celled anther from this cause. 

 In the Sage but one side of the con- 

 nectivum bears an anther, the other 

 side being very differently developed, 

 and assumes the appearance represented 

 in tig. 101, c. 



It sometimes happens that the anther 

 is more than two celled. This is occa- 

 sioned, "n some cases, by the folding inwards of the sutures, 

 so as to form a imion with the back of the cell, as in the Ash, 

 The Ciicurhitaccce presents a curious modification of the an- 

 ther, in w hich they are long, narrow and sinuous and folded 

 back upon themselves, (fig. 101, d.) 



When the anthers are attached hv their base to the summit 

 of the style, they are said to be innate, when by tlieir back 

 adnate. When they seem to be balanced on the top of the 

 style ihey are said to be versatile. The anthers of grasses are 

 versatile. When the anthers are turned inwards, thev are 

 eaid to be iritrorse, and when turned outwards extrorse. 





