There can be no doubt that the sole use of the honey with respect to the plant is to tempt insects, who in produring it fertilize the flower, by disturbing the dust of the Stamens, and even carry that substance from the barren to the fertile blossoms.
3. Stamina. The Stamens, formerly called Chives, are various in number in different flowers, from one to some hundreds. Their situation is internal with respect to the part we have been describing; external to the Pistils, at least in simple flowers.
These organs are essential, there being no plant hitherto discovered, after the most careful research, that is destitute of them, either in the same flower with the pistils, or a separate one of the same species.
A Stamen commonly consists of two parts, the Filament, Filamentum, and Anther[1], Anthera, the former being merely what supports the latter, which is the only essential part. Various forms and propor-
- ↑ I submit to the opinion of Professor Martyn in adopting this word, for the reasons given in his Language of Botany, more especially as general practice seems to favour its use.
