90 



I have been able to obtain are pictured in fig. 47 PI. X, 

 fig. 51, 52 PI. XL 



Fig. 51, from which fig. 52 is an enlargment shows painly 

 a division of the nucleus in the eggcell while fig. 54 PI. XI, 

 puts it beyond the shadow of a doubt that the embryo is 

 formed from the eggcell. Fig. 53 might give rise to the idea 

 that the embryo was formed apogametically as in Balanophora, 

 this dilusion is caused, by the fact that the section is not a 

 median one in regard to the eggcell and thus has not touched 

 the stalk of the eggcell. 



Fig. 55 shows that 8 chromosomes move towards the young 

 nuclei formed by Karyokinesis , of an endospermic cell (taken 

 from the same young fruit as fig. 47 PI. X) unfortunately 

 I have not been able to determine the number of chromosomes 

 in one of the cells belonging to the tuber. 



What to conclude from the facts observed? Parthenogenesis? 

 It seems to me not; against this speaks the extreme rarity of 

 seeds with embryo's; the most plausible explanation I think is 

 this one : Rhopalocnemis phalloides forms an embryo by normal 

 fertilisation of the eggcell^ which occurs extremely rarely; if no 

 fertilisation occurs the development of the female flower can go so 

 far that a primary endospermnucleus is formed ; after that the 

 flower perishes. 



That no parthenogenesis occurs has not been proved; to 

 prove this the entrance of a poUentube must be observed , I 

 must acknowledge that I lack the patience to extend my work 

 until this has been seen, fertilisation is too rare to hunt for 

 it, this seems to me a waste of time, the more so as an 

 occasional observation, at some time, may yet fill this gap. 



The fact which has been absolutely proved and which is not without 

 interest is that in the Balanophoraceous family the embryo may be 

 formed in two very different ways viz. : among Balanophora elongata 

 {Treub) and Balanophora globosa {Lotsy) apogamically from endo- 

 spermic cells, among Rhopalocnemis phalloides from the eggcell. 



One of the reasons why fertilisation occurs so rarely is cer- 

 tainly found in the fact that in many cases the pollensacs do 



