CHAP. II. 
STAMENS. 
175 
inner series of what seem to be petals are modifications of 
filaments (see Introduction to the Nat. S^st., ed. 2. p. 325.) : 
and this is a very common circumstance in sterile stamens. 
The filament also varies in other respects : in Thalictrum 
it is thickest at the upper end, or clavate (Plate III. fig. 23.) ; 
in Mahernia geniculate (Plate III. fig. 25.), in Hirtella 
spiral^ in Crambe bifurcate^ in Anthericum bearded or stupose. 
In some plants the filaments are combined into a solid body 
called the columna, as in Stapelia, Stylidium (Plate IV. fig. 1, 
2, 3.), Rafflesia, and others : this has in Orchidaceae received 
from Richard the name oi gynostemium. 
Care must be taken not to confound the pedicel and 
single stamen of the naked male flowers of Euphorbia with 
a filament, as was done by all writers, until Brown de- 
tected the error. For modifications of filaments see Plates III. 
and IV. 
The Anther ( Theca of Grew ; Capsida, Malpighi ; Apex, 
Ray; Testiculus or Vaillant ; Capitulum, Jungius ; Sper-^ 
matocystidium, Hedwig) is a body generally attached to the 
apex of the filament, composed of two parallel lobes or cells 
{thecce, or coniothecce, or loculi,) containing pollen, and united 
by the connective. It consists entirely of cellular tissue, with 
the exception sometimes of a bundle of very minute vascular 
tissue, which diverges on each side from the filament, and 
passes through that part of the anther from which the pollen 
has been incorrectly supposed to separate, and which is 
called the receptacle of the pollen by some, the trophopollen by 
Turpin, and the raphe by Link, but with greater propriety 
the septum of the anther. Its coat is called by Purkinje 
exothecium. 
In the most common state of the anther the cells are parallel 
with each other (Plate III. fig. 14.), and open with two 
valves (Plate III. fig. 13. a), by a longitudinal fissure from 
the base to the apex ; in Labiatae and Scrophulariaceac the 
cells diverge more or less at the base (Plate III. fig. 15, 18.), 
so as in some cases to assume the appearance of a one-celled 
horizontal anther, especially after they have burst. In Cu- 
curbitaceae the lobes are very long and narrow, sinuous, and 
folded back upon themselves (Plate III. fig. 24.). In Salvia 
