Fecundation in OrchidecE and Asclepiadece. 739 



Additional Observations on the Mode of Fecundation in OrchidecE. 



Read June 5, 1832. 



The following additions to the Paper, which was communicated 

 to the Society in November last, on the Sexual Organs and 

 Mode of Fecundation in Orchideae and Asclepiadeae, relate 

 entirely to the former family. 



In the essay itself I had ascertained from the examination of 

 a considerable number of species belonging to different tribes 

 of Orchideae, that in the expanded flower of this family, how- 

 ever long it had remained in that state, no appearance what- 

 ever existed of those tubes which form the mucous cords, either 

 in the tissue of the stigma or in the cavity of the ovarium, 

 anterior to the application of the pollen to the stigma ; and 

 that in all cases where pollen had been applied to that organ 

 and enlargement of the ovarium had followed, the mucous cords 

 were to be found. 



From these facts I had concluded that the tubes forming the 

 cords were entirely and directly produced from the grains of 

 pollen ; and hence 1 accounted for the cohesion of the pollen 

 into masses, and its frequent application in that state to the 

 stigma. 



Some cases, however, in which a few lobules or even grains 

 of pollen only were observed on the stigmata of impregnated 

 flowers, had led me to express myself doubtfully on this point. 

 And since my paper was read, I have had opportunities of 

 making several observations and experiments which prove that 

 the application of a very small portion of a pollen mass to the 

 stigma is sufficient for the production of mucous cords of the 

 ordinary size in the cavity of the ovarium. 



My 



