Mr. Griffith on the Impregnation of Dischidia. 393 



tissue of the apiculus in both contains opake, round, minute bodies, of the 

 nature of which I am ignorant. In neither of these species have I seen the 

 poUinia engaged in the fissures of communication. In the cases I have ex- 

 amined, in which impregnation had taken place, the pollinia were either 

 caught by the processes of the corona, or had fallen into the fundus of the 

 corolla. 



The cord formed by the aggregation of the boyaux, in whatever situation 

 they may have been emitted, passes up towards the nearest fissure, in which it 

 engages itself. Having become engaged, it becomes more opake and grumous, 

 and the boyaux are closely approximated. Its course is thence upwards to 

 the base of the stigma (Tab. XVIII. fig. 9). Having reached this point, it is 

 reflected along and in close apposition to the base of this body, until it 

 reaches the union of the stigma with the styles : it then dips into the style or 

 styles, generally however one, and, from the shortness of these, soon reaches 

 the placenta, producing in its course slight discoloration of the adjoining 

 tissue. On reaching the ovuliferous portion of the placenta, the boyaux sepa- 

 rate and proceed in every direction among the ovula, to which they become 

 firmly applied. These boyaux have the usual appearance and termination : 

 they contain much granular matter and many coagula : the granular matter 

 has a strong tendency to accumulate towards the termination of the boyaux, 

 the upper part remaining quite empty: they are often exceedingly numerous 

 about the part in application with the ovula: in others, again, scarcely any 

 granules are visible. This does not appear to depend upon a greater degree 

 of duration of such boyaux. The irregularity as to number seems to throw 

 doubt upon their supposed nutrient functions. I have seen oscillatory mo- 

 tion of the contained granules, but no motion of ascent or descent. Coagula 

 are likewise seen occasionally in the vicinity of the ovula. The tubes are 

 simple, and one appears to be allotted to each ovule: they remain applied 

 to the ovula for some time ; they are distinctly visible when the ovarium has 

 exceeded the calyx about one-third in length. Even at this time the granules 

 are frequently crowded about their extremities. They invariably pass in at 

 the centre of the fissure (Tab. XVIII. figs. 7, 8), and are so firmly applied that 

 they break across sooner than separate from their attachment. The tissue of 

 the ovula is so opake and so delicate, that I have hitherto been unable to 



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