80 
POLLEN. 
I 
ble chances are so numerous, that it is hardly "possible, in the order 
of nature, that a pistillate plant should remain unfertilized. The. 
particles of the pollen are light and abundant, and the butterflies, 
honey-bees, and other insects, transport them from flower to flower. 
The winds also assist in executing the designs„of nature. 
The pollen of the Pines and Firs, moved by winds, may be seen 
rising like a cloud above the forests; the particles being dissemina¬ 
ted, fall upon the pistillate flowers, and rolling within their scaly en¬ 
velopes, fertilize the germs. 
A curious fact is stated by an Italian writer, viz. that in places 
about forty miles distant, grew two palm-trees, the one without sta¬ 
mens, the other without pistils ; neither of them bore seed for many 
years ; but in process of time, they grew so tall as to tower above 
all the objects near them. The wind, thus meeting with no obstruc¬ 
tion, wafted the pollen to the pistillate flowers, which, to the aston¬ 
ishment of all, began to produce fruit. 
The number of plants in which the pistils and stamens are on dif¬ 
ferent flowers, is few, compared to those which have these important 
organs enclosed within the same corolla; as in our herbaceous 
plants, and the trees of hot countries, whose leaves being always 
present, might impede the passage of the pollen from other trees. 
On the contrary, the trees of cold climates have generally the sta¬ 
mens and pistils on separate flowers, blossoming before the leaves 
come forth, and in a windy season of the'yestr. Those which blos¬ 
som later, as the oak, are either peculiarly frequented by insects, or 
like the numerous kinds of firs, have leaves so little in the way, and 
pollen so excessively abundant, that it can scarcely fail of gaining 
access to the pistillate flower. 
In all cases the pollen and stigma are in perfection at the same 
time; in those flowers where the stamens and pistils are together, 
and of an equal length, some are drooping and some erect, but 
where the stamens are longer than the pistil, the flower is usually 
erect; where they are shorter, the flower is pendent; nature thus 
provides for the fertilization of the germ by the fall of the farina upon 
the stigma. 
Fig. 85, at A, re¬ 
presents a flower 
of the genus Eu¬ 
phorbia.* It is mo¬ 
noecious ; in the 
centre of the peri¬ 
anth, a, is the infer¬ 
tile flower, consist¬ 
ing of several dou¬ 
ble stamens, c c, 
upon jointed fila¬ 
ments, dd. 5, is the 
fertile flower, with 
a petal-like stigma. 
At A, is the same 
flower before blos¬ 
soming; it is re¬ 
presented as cut 
_ * Euphorbia illyriva .—Mirbel. __ 
Exacts stated by an Italian writer—Trees of hot countries have mostly stamens and 
pistils on the same corolla—Trees of cold countries have the stamens and pistils on 
separate flowers—Methods by which the objects of nature are accomplished—Explain 
Fig. 85. 
Fig. 85. 
