VASCULAR SYSTEMS OF FLORAL ORGANS. 167 
figure 8 show the cords running vertically upwards, there being 
three or more together in different pistils (ef. 9 and 10, zr). The 
placental cords send off innumerable branches to the ovules 
scattered over the vertical walls of the placentiferous plates ; 
these consist of a spongy parenchyma and serve as condyeting- 
tissue for the pollen-tubes. 
Decaying capsules with the skeleton exposed reveal the struc- 
ture very well, by showing how these extra tracheids terminate 
above, just below the “ pore," and fail to reach the axis below, 
but are suspended by lateral branches which unite them to the 
placental cords. 
The only other instances known to me of an entirely indepen- 
dent origin of tracheids are certain star-like clusters which arise 
freely between the positions of the ovary-cells in the Boraginee 
(see xrvir. 6,7; and xrvirr. 2; Pl. XXX.) 
VI. EscHsCHOLTZIA CALIFORNICA.—This flower has a form of 
receptacular tube with the pistil free in the centre. The distri- 
bution of cords is not without some resemblance to that of Prunus. 
The pedicel contains a circle of cords (1). These begin to increase 
by radial chorisis till a tolerably complete circle is formed just 
below the commencement of the funnel-shaped tube (2). A 
considerable number of cords now pass off to the circumference 
to supply the sepals (3 and 4, s.). Another portion of the ring 
separates for the petals and stamens (4, st., 5, 6), and a third ring 
becomes isolated within them, which belongs to the pistil (4). 
The stamens are supplied in various ways. The coras first 
appear in clusters as the tracheæ of particular ones isolate them- 
selves (4), and they separate either by radial or tangential cho- 
risis, or else, so to say, break up into groups of three or four (5, 
6). The cords of the four petals are not distinguishable. 
The pistiline group of cords isolated in the middle consists of 
eight cords at first, arranged in the form of an ellipse (4), each of 
the two (at the ends of the shorter axis) facing one another 
separate into two or three (7, pl.). If there are two, each belongs 
to a placenta (8); if three, then the central one appears to supply 
the ovules (7). The other large cords send up small branches (9), 
all of which help to supply the ovarian walls (8). As the ovary 
contracts at the base of the style, the cords form four groups 
which then pass off into the four styles (10). This appears to 
show that the cords at the extremities of the long axis are poten- 
tially marginal or placentary ; and as Eschscholtzia has sometimes 
LINN. JOURN.— BOTANY, VOL. XXVIII. o 
