named Rafflesia. 
15 
It is unnecessary for my present purpose to enter into a more 
minute account of the various structures of stamina, most of 
which appear to me easily reducible to the type here assumed. 
The precise relation of the anthera of Rafflesia , however, to this 
type is so far from being obvious, that at least three different 
opinions may be formed respecting it. 
According to one of these, each actual anthera would be con¬ 
sidered as composed of several united stamina. But in adopting 
this opinion, which is suggested solely by the existence and dis¬ 
position of the cells of the anthera, it seems also necessary to con¬ 
sider the apparently simple dower of Rafflesia as in reality com¬ 
pound, and analogous to the spike of an Aroidea; the pistilla, 
if present, being consequently to be looked for not in the centre 
but in the circumference. On attending, however, to the whole 
external structure of the dower, as well as to the disposition of 
vessels, this supposition will, I conclude, appear still more im¬ 
probable than that in support of which it is adduced. 
A second opinion, diametrically opposite to the former, would 
regard the anthera of Rafflesia , as only half a regular anthera, 
whose two thecae are separated by portions of the united fila¬ 
ments, which, being produced beyond the antherae, together form 
the crenated limb of the column. 
This view, though less paradoxical than the first, will hardly 
be considered as affording so probable an explanation of struc¬ 
ture as the third opinion; according to which each anthera 
would be regarded as complete, made up of two united thecae, 
opening by a common foramen, and internally subdivided into 
numerous vertical cells by persistent portions of the confluent 
receptacles of the pollen ; a structure not perhaps essentially 
different from that of certain antherae more obviously reducible 
to the supposed type. 
Even in adopting this opinion, a question would still remain 
respecting 
