206 THE FLORIST AND 



vestige of an anthera, and that their presence is not indicated by more than 

 two irregular excrescences, as in Orchis, or by the same number of small 

 appendages, as in Satyrium, or by two horn-like or tooth-like processes, 

 present in several of the genera, with waxy pollen masses ; it even happens, 

 and not unfrequently, that no vestige of them remains. But in Cypripe- 

 dium, both are fertile, and bear perfect anthers, while the central stamen is 

 barren and foliaceous. 



When the lateral stamens are, as above stated, abortive, which is the most 

 common form of the column, the central stamen bears at its upper extremity 

 an anther, which is either movable or fixed firmly in its place. The pollen 

 which this contains, assumes three very distinct appearances in different 

 tribes. It is either granular, dividing into many separable small pieces, as 

 in Orchis ; or powdery, consisting of an infinite number of granules, as in 

 Spiranthes ; or waxy, when it consists of a few large concrete masses, as in 

 Epidendrum. The stigma is most frequently concave, and placed nearly 

 under the anther, but in such a manner that there is no contact between it 

 and the pollen. In what way, therefore, fecundation can take place among 

 truly gynandrous plants, is one of those mysterious contrivances of nature 

 which have not as yet been explained. It is generally believed to take place 

 by absorption in some undiscovered manner, before the flowers expand ; but 

 it is extremely difficult to understand how this can occur in many genera. — 

 Hort. Review. 



THE SYMMETRY OF VEGETATION. 



The same principles are manifest among flowers. A flower is a body in 

 which that system of equipoise, of which symmetry is the great result, is as 

 clearly traceable as in branches or leaves, or in the veins of leaves. Either 

 one-half of a flower balances the other, or one series of organs alternates 

 with another, or any deviation from symmetry that occurs in one part, is 

 immediately conpensated for by some peculiar development specially pro- 

 vided in another part. Take a blossom of the common Goose-foot (Cheno- 

 podium). It consists of five slender arms or stamens, which are exactly 

 alike, and opposite which are five other external parts, forming a star with 

 five rays, the two series corresponding precisely the one with the other. This 

 is one of the simplest of known forms ; should a flower be reduced much 

 lower, there is scarcely room for the manifestation of special symmetry. 

 The most complicated structures are merely different in degree. In the 



