200 LINARIA CYMBALARIA. 



roughly compressed, it is found to consist of bundles of spiral 

 fibre. So closely are these fibres wound together, that from ordi- 

 nary observation the bundles of tissue appear to be merely pitted, 

 but closer observation will reveal that this fibre is truly spiral, and 

 if sufficient pressure is used, it may be detected in an unwound 

 condition. I think, therefore, that in the unripened seed-stem this 

 spiral tissue is at its greatest elasticity. As the capsule ripens, the 

 spiral fibre contracts and causes the stem of the capsule to curl 

 and twist, owing to the non-contraction of the outer cuticles, and 

 thus the object of seed-preservation is attained. 



The capsule has two divisions, each of which contains 15 

 or 17 seeds. I have counted as many as 41 in some fine 

 specimens of plants obtained in this locality. From the drawing, 

 Fig. 7 (which is magnified 40 diameters), the size and shape of the 

 seeds may be readily seen. The wrinkled nature of the seeds 

 renders them easy for lodgment in the wall-crevices ; the irregu- 

 larity of their surfaces prevents them from rolling out of their 

 home in the upright walls. They are not at all unlike miniature 

 walnut-kernels. When fully ripe, they are of a rich brown colour; 

 if not quite ripe, of a reddish tinge. A section of these minute 

 seeds reveals the true colour of the testa and its pretty cellular 

 formation. Their small size renders dissection difficult, and I 

 have been unable to detect the character of the substance which 

 is interposed between the embryo and the seed-coat. I presume 

 it is the usual albuminous matter, but the sections I have mounted 

 show the walls of the testa and the interior cellular mass, 

 and forms a beautiful object under polarised light (Fig. 8). On a 

 blue selenite ground, the cell-walls are very distinct in red and 

 green, and colourless granules occupy the minute spaces. The 

 embryo is very large, and with careful focussing it is seen to 

 possess two cotyledons, reclinate — i.e., folded from apex to base. 

 I have spent some time in watching the germination of the seeds, 

 having sown them in damp sand, but for several weeks they gave 

 no appearance of life. Ultimately, however, I obtained a fine 

 crop of young Linaria, and there are two reasons for especial 

 remarks. First, the leaves and stems of the seedlings were studded 

 with very minute capitate hairs, which are not found in the perfect 

 plant ; second, the under-surfaces of the miniature leaves were 



