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A TEXTBOOK OF THEORETICAL BOTANY 



The Male Gametes 



The nature of the male gametes has been a subject of some controversy. 

 The second division in the male gametophyte concerns only the generative 

 cell. It is a mitotic, equational division and generally there seems to be no 

 differentiation between the two nuclei formed, which are the actual male, 



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Fig. 1323. — Lilitim martagon. A, Division of generative nucleus in 

 the pollen tube. Twelve split chromosomes in the cell. L. 

 aiiratiim. B, Pollen tube from near base of style, showing 

 irregular form of the generative nuclei. Tube nucleus below. 

 C, Pollen tube nearing ovary. Generative cells, tube nucleus 

 and swollen tip of tube. {After Wehford.) 



