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