94 
STAMENS. 
ed to the pistillate, and there assist in pefecting the seed. In 
order that you may the better understand this curious process, 
and the organs by means of which it is carried on, we will exam- 
ine each one separately. 
STAMENS. 
Stamens are thread-like parts which are exterior with respect 
to the pistil, interior with regard to the corolla. They exhibit a 
variety ol' positions with respect to the pistil. These positions 
seldom vary in the same family, and they have therefore been 
taken by the celebrated Jussieu as one of the fundamental dis- 
tinctions in his classification, called the natural Method. If the 
stamens are inserted upon the pistil, as in umbelliferous plants, 
they are said to be epigynous (from epi upon, and gynia pistil;) 
if the stamens arc inserted under the germ, as in cruciform 
plants, they are said to be hypogi/nous (from hypo under, and 
gynia pistil ;) when the stamens are inserted upon the calyx, and 
thus stand around the germ, as in rosaceous plants, they are 
said to be perigynous , (from peri around, and gynia pistil.) 
When a corolla is monopetalous, the number of stamens is 
usually either equal or double, or half that of the divisions. 
Stamens in such flowers never exceed twenty. 
In polypetalous corollas, the number of stamens may be much 
greater. When the number of stamens equals the divisions of 
the corolla, they usually alternate with these divisions. When 
the number of stamens is double the divisions of the corolla, 
half of the stamens are usually placed in the intervals of the 
divisions, and the remaining half before each lobe of the corolla, 
corresponding to the intervals in the divisions of the calyx. If 
any of the stamens are barren or without anthers, they are those 
which are placed before the lobes of the corolla. 
In commencing the analysis of flowers according to the Lin- 
naean system, you learned that the number of stamens, their po- 
sition, relative length , and connection taken either singly or in 
combination, afford certain and distinctive marks for purposes 
of classification. In the first place we find the stamens differing 
in number, in different plants ; some plants have but one, some 
two, and so on till we come to ten ; when they have more than 
ten, we find the number in the same plant varies, and therefore 
we cannot depend on the circumstance of number for further 
classification. 
We then resort to position and consider whether the stamens 
Definitions of the stamen — Positions with respect to the pistil — Divisions 
of Monopetalous corollas usually in proportion to the number of stamens — 
Situation of the stamens with respect to the divisions of the corolla — Sta- 
mens used for purposes of classification — Differ in number — In the mode 
of insertion — 
