228 Mr. Brown on the Female Flower and Fruit q/*Rafflesia Arnoldi, 



areolated, and of uniform surface. Within this the nucleus, of similar form 

 and dimensions, seems to be more firmly attached at its upper extremity to 

 the coat by a short and very slender funiculus. 



The nucleus separated from its coat has an areolated surface, and at first 

 appears to be entirely composed of a loose and uniform cellular tissue. But 

 on a more careful examination this substance is found to contain another cel- 

 lular body, of nearly cylindrical form, adhering with some firmness to the 

 upper extremity of the including cellular mass, whose vertical axis it occupies 

 for nearly three-fourths of its length. 



This inner body, which I regard as the embryo, consists of large cells, 

 disposed nearly, but not with absolute regularity, in two longitudinal series, 

 and so transparent, that it may be safely affirmed that there is no included 

 body nor any perceptible difference in the contents of any of the component 

 cells. 



This account of the embryo differs in some respects from Mr. Bauer's 

 representation of it, especially as to the point of attachment, and in the 

 distinct appearance and transparency of cells*. 



The seed of Hydnora in many essential points resembles that of Rafflesla. 

 Its nucleus consists of a dense albumen, the cells of which are so disposed as 

 to exhibit, when slightly magnified, a kind of radiation in whatever direction 

 it is cut. This albumen is much denser than that of Hafflesia, the greater 

 density arising, perhaps, from the unusual thickness of the walls of each cell, 

 its cavity bearing so small a proportion to the supposed external dimensions 

 of the cell as to give it the appearance of a nucleus or more opake central 

 bodyf. 



Enclosed in the albumen a perfectly spherical embryo is found, consisting 

 entirely of a more minute and much less dense cellular tissue. On the surface 

 of this embryo I have observed no point marking original attachment, nor any 



* I have therefore added to Tab. XXV. a circumscribed figure, marked R. Br., in which I have 

 endeavoured to represent (but not very successfully) the structure as I have seen it. 



t But these supposed cells with thickened walls, admitting them to have been originally distinct, are 

 in the ripe seed nearly or entirely obliterated, so that the substance of the cartilaginous albumen con- 

 sists of a uniform, semitransparent mass, in which the more opake nuclei or cells, containing minute 

 granular matter, are as it were immersed, 



