348 
PLANT STUDIES 
The strobilus composed of microsporophylls may be 
called the staminate strobilus that is, one composed of 
stamens ; it is often called the staminate cone, " cone " 
being the English translation of the word "strobilus." 
Frequently the staminate cone is spoken of as the " male 
cone," as it was once supposed that the stamen is the 
FIG. 309. Staminate cone (strobilus) of pine (Pinus): A, section of cone, showing 
microsporophylls (stamens) bearing microsporangia; B, longitudinal section of a 
single stamen, showing the large sporangium beneath ; C, cross-section of a sta- 
men, showing the two sporangia; Z>, a single microspore (pollen grain) much en- 
larged, showing the two wings, and a male gametophyte of two cells, the lower 
and larger (wall cell) developing the pollen tube, the upper and smaller (genera- 
tive cell) giving rise to the sperms. After STRASBUBGER. 
male organ. This name should, of course, be abandoned, 
as the stamen is now known to be a microsporophyll, which 
is an organ produced by the sporophyte, which never pro- 
duces sex organs. It should be borne distinctly in mind 
that the stamen is not a sex organ, for the literature of 
botany is full of this old assumption, and the beginner is in 
