Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 01.djvu/704

ANTHER. sterile tissue (the "counective''), which is often notliing more than the top of the axis of the stamen. See.

AN'THERID'IUM (a diminutive after the Greek fashion from (inlhcr: see Anther). The male organ of plants; that is, the organ in which the sperms are develojjcd. Among the algfe and tungi an antheridium is usually a single cell, and in the simplest forms in which antheridia appear this single cell is merely a nutritive cell which is used for the purpose of producing sperms. In most algte and fungi, however, the antlieridium is a distinctly diUerentiatcd cell set apart from the very fii'st for the production of sperms. Among the mosses and ferns the antheridium is a many-celled organ of varying shape. The moss antheridium is a free organ and more or less club-shaped, a section showing that the wall con- sists of a single layer of sterile cells, and that the rest of the structure is a compact mass ot very small cells, witliin each one of which a sin- gle speini is organized. The antheridium springs open or bursts open in the presence of moisture and discharges its mass of cells and sperms, the latter of which free themselves by their movements and are ready to swim to the female organs. Among the ordinary ferns the antheridium is an imbedded organ, which dis- charges its sperms in one way or another at the surface of the prothallium.

ANTHF.nmiA OF A MOSS (ff), A PERN (Jfj, AND A LIVERWOllT (C).

TVith the introduction of heternspory (q.v.), which involves certain of the fern-i)lants and all of the seed-plants, the male plant is very much reduced in size, being entirely contained within the spore that produces it. which in the seed- plants is called the pollen grain. With this reduction of the male plant, the antheridium is correspondingly modified, so that it is a matter of discussion in such cases as to just what cell or cells may represent an antheridium. The or- gan, tlierefore, in the seed-plants does not stand out with the distinctness that it presents in the three lower groups, but it is none the less repre- sented.

The name is an unfortunate one, since it means "anther-like," having been given under the im- pression that the anther of seed-plants is a male organ. It would l)e very desirable to change the name if such a thing were possible, and "sperm- ar}-" has been pro])osed as a substitute.

AN'THESTE'RIA. See Greek Festivals.

ANTHEUNIS, ax'te'ne', Gextil Theodoor (1840 — ). A Flemish poet. He was born at Oudenarde, and removed to Brussels. He is one of the best lyric poets of Belgium. His verses are distinguished by depth of sentiment and cu])hony. Among his most popular songs are: LenteUed. Ih Jcen een Lied, Yerqeefs. and fle- irovme licfdi'. Collections of his poems have been published under the titles: Uit hcf Hurt I Leydeii. 1873); Lcccn, Lieven, Zingen (The Hag'ue, 1879).

AN'THOCY'AN (Gk. av-anc, authos, flower + Kvavoc, kyanos, a dark-blue substance). The blue, purple, or red coloring matter found dis- solved in the cell sap of flowers, fruits, young leaves and stems, dying leaves in autumn, etc. The term "erj'throphyH'' was formerly used in this sense. The cliemistry of anthocj'an is imper- fectly known, but the substance appears to be one of the tannins or phenol compounds. Its color depends upon the character of the solution in which it is present; if acid, it is red; if alka- line, it is blue. Therefore, many blue flowers he- come reddish as they fade. The function of an- thocyan in the living plant is not positively known, although numerous attempts have been made to explain its presence and distribution. ( See Color. ) ( 1 ) It has been held to be a pro- tection to the green coloring matter of .young leaves against too much light, which promotes its decomposition (see Chlouopiiyll), especially when it is formed slowly on account of low tem- perature. (2) It is alleged to be of advantage to young leaves and shoots by increasing the ab- sorption of the sun's energy, and thus raising their temperature. (3) By its action on light it probably facilitates the formation and action of a digestive substance (diastase) in leaves and so ]iprhaps promotes translocation of food.

ANTHO'LOGY (Gk. uf^o'Aoyia, <intholo<jia, a flower-gathering, from uiiSof, nnfhof:. flower -f- /".fjfiu, Jrtjcin, to pick out). The title usually given to a book consisting of an unconnected series of choice thoughts, whether in prose or in verse, but generally in the latter. In ancient times, collections of this kind consisted largely of epigrams. 1. The earliest Greek anthology was compiled by Jleleager, of Gadara. in Syria, abou; 80 B.C. It" was named Thr Gnrlnnd ' (IW^oraj, Stcphnvns) ,a& contained onehundredand thirty of jlelcager's own epigrams, and selections from forty-seven other poets, including Alcaais, Anacreo'n, Archilochus, Sappho, and Sinionides. Something more than one hundred years later, Philip of Thessaloniea gathered the best epigrams of the preceding century into a collection, which he published in" the reign of Caligula, and which at an early date seems to 'have been combined with Meleager's Garland. A thinl collection was made by Straton, of Sardis, in the second century A.D.: and a fourth by Diogenianus Heracleota. The latter seems to have been the first to adopt the name "anthologA-" (hvHoAdyiov imypa/jfidruv, anthologion epigrunimatdn) ._ The writing of epigrams then languished, but it was revived again during the sixth century in Constantinople; and theproductiousthereof.Tulianus, Christ odorus. Leontius, Paulus Silentiarius and others gave occasion for a new anthology, made