NECTARIES. 269 



all pointed, as at I, where they face those which lie 

 near the mouth of the nectary, as a part of H. The 

 structure of the pointed cells is quite special, their 

 contents, as seen under high magnifying powers, 

 being distinctly granular, peculiarly so near the cell- 

 wall, which, at the prominence, is excessively thin, 

 and has, lying immediately within it, a globular mass 

 of highly refractive protoplasm (n, K and L), con- 

 taining a distinct nucleus. This is the active agent 

 in accomplishing the secretive act, and the surface of 

 the cells here, in healthy plants, and in proper con- 

 ditions of the atmosphere, will always be found to 

 be coated with a layer of nectar. 



We may study, similarly, the three nectaries of the 

 common hyacinth If the corolla be removed, we 

 find the flask-shaped ovary giving indications of being 

 formed by the fusion of three parts. The furrows 

 running between these carry, near their upper ends, 

 tiny beads of nectar, secreted from a tube-like cavity, 

 running down between the cells of the ovary ; and, by 

 making cross sections, we get an opportunity of 

 examining the nectar cells. But, in some cases, we 

 find no superficial layer possessing the secretory 

 function, but an alteration in the underlying cellular 

 tissue, which carries its nectar onwards to a pore 

 passing through the ordinary epidermal cells. This 

 structure obtains in the raspberry (Fig. 70), where a 

 continuous line of pores (no), commonly covered by 

 beadlets of nectar, easily seen by a lens, surrounds the 

 drupels ; the nectar being, of course, secreted by 

 nectar cells (nc), which are not superficial, but form a 

 part of the receptacle of the blossom. 



