74 
STAMENS. 
in the fig-tree. Although in the ca^e of plants whose stamens and 
pistils are on separate flowers, we see this advantage arising from 
the fact of insects being attracted by the honey, yet the greater 
number of plants do not need any assistance in conveying pollen to 
the stigmas. Some imagine that honey contributes to the perfection 
of the stamens : but plants that do not appear to secrete honey, have 
perfect stamens. One thing, however, is certain with respect to this 
fluid, that without detriment to the plant, it yields to the industrious 
bee the material for the manufacture of honey, a luxury highly 
valued from the most ancient times. Virgil knew that bees made 
honey from the juices which they gathered from flowers ; and we 
indeed, on this subject, know but little more than he has beautifully 
expressed in his pastorals. 
Although we are ever discovering something new and wonderful 
in the economy of nature ; and, in some cases, seem permitted to 
search into the hidden mysteries of her great Author, yet in our re- 
searches we aYe continually made sensible of the limited nature of 
our own faculties ; and a still, small voice, seems to whisper to man, 
in the proudest triumphs of his reason, " Hitherto shalt thou go, but 
no farther." 
LECTURE XIII. 
STAMENS AND PISTILS. 
Although the calyx and the corolla may be wanting, the stamens 
and pistils are indispensable to the perfection of the fruit. They are 
in most plants enclosed by the same envelope, or stand on the same 
receptacle ; in the class Moncecia they are on different flowers Vv^hich 
spring from one common root; and in Dicecia, they are on different 
flowers, springing from different roots. Yet, however distant the 
stamens and pistils may be, nature has provided ways by which the 
pollen from the staminate flowers may be conveyed to the pistillate, 
and there assist in perfecting the seed. That you may the better 
understand this curious process, and the organs by means of which 
it is carried on, w^e will examine each one separately. 
Stamens. 
Stamens are thread-like parts which are exterior with respect to 
the pistil, and interior to the corolla. They exhibit a variety of po- 
sitions with respect to the pistil. These positions seldom vary in 
the same family, and they have therefore been taken by the cele- 
brated Jussieu as one of the fundamental distinctions in his classifi- 
cation, called the " Natural method." If the stamens are inserted 
upon the pistil, as in umbelhferous plants, they are said to be epigy- 
nous (from epz, upon, and -pistil ;) if the stamens are inserted 
under the germ, as in cruciform plants, they are said to be hypogy- 
nous (from hypo, under, and gynia, pistil;) when the stamens are in- 
serted upon the calyx, and thus stand around the germ, as in the ro- 
saceous plants, they are said to be perigj/nous, (from peri, around, and 
gynia, pistil.) 
When a corolla is monopetalous, the number of the stamens is, 
nsually, either equal, double, or half that of the divisions of the corolla; 
'he stamens in such flowers never exceed twenty. 
Reflections— Stamens and pistils necessary to the perfection of the fruit— Defini- 
tvnsof the stamen — Positions with respect to the pistil— Divisions of monopetalous 
(jorollas usually in proportion to the number of stamens. 
