ON THE ASCLEPIADEJE. 15 



antherae, however, were distinctly formed, easily 

 separable from the stigma, and their cells, which 

 were absolutely shut, were filled with a turbid 

 fluid, the parts of which did not so cohere as to 

 separate in a mass ; of the cuculli, which in the 

 expanded flower are so remarkable, and constitute 

 the essential character of the genus, there was no 

 appearance. 



In the next stage submitted to examination, 

 where the corolla nearly equalled the calyx in 

 length, the gland-like bodies of the stigma were 

 become visible, and consisted of two nearly filiform, 

 light brown, parallel, contiguous and membrana- 

 ceous substances, secreted by the sides of the fur- 

 row, which was now somewhat deeper : Instead 

 of the filiform processes, a gelatinous matter oc- 

 cupied an obliquely descending depression pro- 

 ceeding from towards the base of each side of the 

 angular furrow. 



In a somewhat more advanced stage, the 

 membranes which afterwards become the glands 

 of the stigma, were found to be linear, closely ap- 

 proximated, and to adhere at their upper extremity. 

 At the same time the gelatinous substance in the 

 oblique depression, had acquired a nearly mem- 

 branaceous texture and a light brown colour, 

 and on separating the gland from its furrow, 

 which was then practicable, this membrane fol- 

 lowed it. At this period, too, the contents of 

 each cell of the anthera had acquired a certain 

 degree of solidity, a determinate form, and were 



