First book of Indian botany / Daniel Oliver.

  • Daniel Oliver
Date:
1869
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: First book of Indian botany / Daniel Oliver. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    from their functions, are styled, collectively, Organs of Nutrition. 2. The four series of leaves of which the flower is com- posed do not each fulfil the same part in the production of the seed. The corolla and the stamens are deciduous. They fall away, leaving the pistil to mature into fruit. But they do not generally fall until after an important function has been accomplished by the stamens, either of the same flower, or of another Orange-flower. The two outer series of flower-leaves, the sepals and petals, may be regarded simply as organs designed to protect the smaller and delicate parts which they enclose during their early development; and perhaps, also, the colour and greater size of the petals may serve to attract insects which, we shall find, have an important work to perform, as aids in securing the formation of good seed. Hence the calyx and corolla are termed the envelopes of the flower. As both calyx and corolla are present in the Orange-flower, the envelope of the flower is double, or in two series. Hence the flower is termed dichlamydeous. 3. The anthers we have observed are divided lengthwise into two lobes, which lobes, after the expansion of the flower, become fissured near their margins, so as to liberate the grains of pollen which they contain. About the time that the anthers open to discharge their pollen, we may observe that the stigma is rough, with microscopic projecting cells which, upon minute examination, we shall find to be slightly moistened. Upon the stigma, after the flower has been open for a few hours in fine weather, there may usually be found a few grains of pollen, which have either reached the stigma by direct contact of the anthers, or by means of some insect visiting the flower in search of honey, and which, unwittingly, conveyed some of the pollen, acciden-
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