44 



DOMESTIC BOTANY. 



In grasses, and all kinds of corn, the calyx and co- 

 rolla are replaced by envelopes called glumes and pale^e, 

 which enclose the stamens and pistils in the form of 

 scales, becoming the chaff of corn. 



Stamens. — The stamens consist of two parts — the fila- 

 ment, or support, and the round or oblong body borne 

 on its apex, called the anther. It must, however, be 

 understood, that in many instances the filament is often 

 very short, or even entirely absent ; the anthers are then 

 said to be sessile. 



The stamens vary from one to many, the number 



Fig. 3. 



generally corresponding with the number of parts of the 

 calyx and corolla; two to four or five, or their multiples, 

 is the usual number in plants with net- veined leaves, and 

 three or six in plants with parallel-veined leaves. Each 

 stamen is either free, or the filaments are broad and 

 connected at their bases, or for their whole length up- 

 wards, forming a tube surrounding the ovary and pistils, 

 as in the mallow, geranium, passion-flower, and pea 

 families (fig. 3, c) . In the latter, there are in most cases 

 nine connected together, and one loose and free (fig. 3, d). 



