2oS 
James Small. 
C. Stamens of the Composite. 
The stamens are five in number, and usually have the anthers 
syngenesious. As described by Cassini (13) the stamen is com¬ 
posed of the filament, which may be glabrous or hairy, the anther, 
the connective, the apical appendage, the basal appendages, the 
pollen and a prolongation of the connective below the anther to 
form the “ article antlnfrifere.” It is certain that in many species 
there is an abrupt change in the tissue of the stalk of the anther, 
but it is not always to be observed, and Bentham agrees with later 
authors in omitting it from his generic diagnoses. Cassini, how¬ 
ever, was so impressed with this structure that he considered that 
the character of the family does not lie in the syngenesious anthers 
but in the “article antheriffcre,” and suggests (13, p. 139) that the 
family would be more appropriately known as the Androtomse than 
as the Synanthereae. This suggestion of alternative designations 
was Cassini’s chief weakness as a botanist. 
The apical appendage is practically always present, but the 
basal appendages may be absent, or may undergo modifications 
which have been used by Cassini, Bentham and others to charac¬ 
terise genera, sub-tribes or even tribes, and it is the form and 
degree of development of the basal appendages that give some 
clues as to the evolution of the family. 
Types of Stamens. 
The numerous varieties of stamens can be reduced to sixteen 
general types as follows :— 
Type 1. Apical appendage absent; basal appendages absent; 
both base and apex of each anther lobe rounded and polliniferous 
(Fig. 6, 1). 
Type 2. Apical appendage present, basal appendages absent; 
base of anther lobes truncate (Fig. 6, 2). 
Type 3. Apical appendage present, basal appendages absent; 
base of anther lobes rounded and polliniferous (Pig. 6, 3). 
Type 4. Apical appendage present; basal appendages very 
small, non-polliniferous auricles (Fig. 6, 4). In one genus, Elen- 
iker anther a , this type occurs with the apical appendage absent as in 
Fig. 6, 4a. 
Type 5. Apical appendage present; basal appendages more 
distinct as obtuse, non-polliniferous auricles (Fig. 6, 5). 
Type 6. As type 5 but with basal appendages acute (Fig. 6, 6). 
