272 Ewart. — On the Staminal Hairs of Thesium . 
(1) those which are comparatively short and thick and directed 
downwards towards the base of the style (as in Fig. 14), and 
(2) those which are long and slender, and directed upwards 
towards the top of the anther (as in Fig. 9). 
Both the classes indicated are illustrated by material pre- 
served in alcohol, kindly forwarded from the Cape by Mr. 
Harry Bolus, F.L.S. The species sent were — Thesium capitu- 
liflorum , Sond. and spicatum L. belonging to the first class ; 
and Thesium paniculatum , L. and debile , R. Br. to the second. 
Th. alpinum , also belonging to the second class, I have had 
at my disposal both in a fresh condition and preserved in 
alcohol. For all other species mentioned in this paper I have 
depended on herbarium specimens from Kew. 
In Thesium capiUdiflorum the perianth consists of five lobes 
united into a tube at the lower part, but free above, the apex 
of each lobe being much thickened so as to form a ‘ hood 5 
over the anther, as shown in Fig. 14, c. From the margins 
and upper part of the hood depend long cellular filaments, 
thicker above, but tapering towards the free end, which reach 
to the stigma and form a veil in front of the anthers (Fig. 14, 
fit.). These consist of elongated cells set end to end, three or 
four thick at the upper part, but in single file below. The 
anthers are large and almost fill up the cavity of the perianth 
behind the pendent filaments. The stamens are inserted near 
the base of the perianth, one opposite each perianth-segment, 
and at about the level of their insertion is a fringe of yellow 
hairs which completely encircles the inner surface of the base 
of the perianth. These are the staminal hairs. The longest 
and most numerous hairs appear to proceed from ten groups, 
one on either side of each stamen, but the groups are con- 
nected together and form a continuous fringe, as shown in the 
transverse section of a flower at this level (Fig. 15). The 
hairs are two or three deep, and directed downwards towards 
the base of the style which they almost touch (Fig. 14, a). 
They consist of two portions : an enlarged base, the ‘ basal 
cushion,’ which is sunk below the surface level of the perianth, 
and a projecting, slender, finger-like portion, which is con- 
