Page:An introduction to physiological and systematical botany (1st edition).djvu/299

 Rh to prove that such parts were not Nectaries. Sometimes possibly he may seem to err, like L'Heritier, in calling abortive stamens by this name. Yet who knows that their filaments do not secret honey as wel [sic] as the tubes of numerous flowers? And though abortive as to Antheras, the Filament, continuing strong and vigorous, may do its office.

Honey is not absolutely confined to the flower. The glands on the footstalks of Passion-flowers yield it, and it exudes from the flower-stalks of some liliaceous plants.

The sweet viscis liquor in question has given rise to much diversity of opinion respecting its use. Pontedera thought it was absorbed by the seeds for their nourishment while forming, as the yolk of the egg by the chick. But Linnæus observes in reply, that barren flowers produce it as well as fertile ones, witness Urtica and Salix. In some instances the fertile flowers only are observed to bear honoey, as Phyllanthus and Tamus, but such cases are rare. Even Darwin says the honey is the food of the stamens and pistils, not recollecting that it is often lodged in spurs or cells quite out of the reach.