JUNE. 
129 
Fig. 2.—Section of the Flo.ver of 
the Pansy. 
their rise from the receptacle. The lowest one also proceeds from the same 
point, but you will observe that it is lengthened backwards, and forms a sort of 
short horn or spur {Jig. 2). Do not remove it, but 
proceed to examine the stamens. These are five in 
number, and composed of yellow anthers, each 
mounted on a small orange-coloured scale. This 
scale is dry and easily removed. The anthers are 
slightly united, and are pressed against the pistil or 
central organ. If you examine their filaments closely 
you will see that they are very short, very brittle, 
and so run into each other at their base as to form a 
sort of common pedestal. The three upper are pretty 
similar to each other. The two lower, placed oppo¬ 
site the lower petal, proceed from the same base as 
the others, but each of them is provided with a long tail, and 
these two tails enter and lodge in the hollow horn of the lower 
petal: if you gently split the horn you will there find them 
enclosed. The anthers open, as in the generality of other flowers, 
by two side slits, but these slits are more towards the inside 
than the outside. 
The pistil ( fig . 3), which occupies the centre of the flower 
being isolated from the stamens which enveloped it will now be 
seen to be composed of a slightly triangular body (ov.), called 
the ovary , the three angles of which will become more distinct as 
it reaches maturity. This body is surmounted by a neck (sty.), 
which swells upwards, and is terminated by a small irregular 
head (stig.), called the stigma ; and it is to the humid and sticky orifice of 
the stigma that the pollen is attached. If you open the ovary you will find a 
great number of ovules attached to the walls of the cavity. 
{To be continued.) 
Fig. 3.—Pistil of 
the Pansy. 
CULTURE OF THE HEDAROMAS. 
These, when seen in good condition, certainly deserve to be classed 
amongst the most beautiful of our greenhouse plants, and they have the great 
recommendation of remaining longer in beauty than almost any other green¬ 
house plants, which renders them so much the more valuable either for deco¬ 
rative purposes or for exhibition work. But, unfortunately, TI. tulipifera, which 
is to my taste much the finest, is what cultivators call a “ miffy plant,” and 
is, in all stages of its growth, exceedingly apt to die suddenly ; and this is the 
case particularly with plants which are doing extra well or growing very 
rapidly; and H. macrostegia, fuchsioides, or Hookerii, although not so liable 
as H. tulipifera to go off suddenly, does not seem inclined to live to a good 
old age, or until it gets too large for the accommodation which any of our 
growers are prepared to find for it. Judging from my own experience and 
observations, this variety is not liable to die suddenly as tulipifera does, but 
often falls into a weakly state when got up to fair-sized specimens. Both are, 
in all respects, first-class plants, and well deserving of any care and attention 
which may be necessary to enable us to find out the cause of the many losses 
which have been experienced with them hitherto, and both are very free 
growers, and make specimens in less time than almost any other greenhouse 
liardwooded plants. H. tulipifera has been a favourite with growers for many 
G 2 
