H. VV. KING ON THE PHYSlOLOCxY OF MONSTERA DEIJCIOSA. 133 



capacity is reached. But when two cells of a like formative 

 energy grow in close relation with one another, the stronger of 

 the two appropriates the formative material to its own structure 

 from the one with the least. The large woody fibre cells are 

 situated among the parenchyma cells, whose function is different, 

 the formation of chlorophyll, secretions, etc., and therefore 

 these woody fibre cells go on developing to the full capacity of 

 their formative energy, having no other kind of cell to influence 

 their non-development. Not so with the smaller kind of woody 

 fibre cells ; these grow with cells of a like energy and are stayed 

 in their growth by the appropriations of the spiral vessels, so 

 producing the two kinds of woody fibre cells, the large and 

 small. 



Raphides of two kinds exist in the pistil, the long, slender, 

 needle shaped, grouped in bands extending more or less through 

 the centre, and clusters of angular crystals to be found prin- 

 cipally in the cells beneath the cuticle of the stigma, though 

 some are to be found in the deeper seated cellular structure. 

 The aperture of the stigma leads through a tube, lined with 

 cylindrical cells, into a double chamber, again divided by a loose 

 cellular division, so forming foui' compartments in which the 

 four ovules grow. From the base and sides of the ovaries 

 growing inwards are a number of elongated cylindrical cells, 

 that developing almost fill the cavities with a thick stroma of 

 semi-transparent hairlike processes, forming an elastic and 

 adaptive cushion for the ovaries to partially rest and grow upon. 

 It is possible this quick growing cellular structure, imbedded as 

 it is in the fleshy part of the pistil, may increase the tempera- 

 ture of the cavity, at the same time keeping the contents moist, 

 both conditions promoting the growth of the ovule. They may 

 also form a channel of nourishment to the pollen thread, while 

 it lives and develops there as an independent growing organism, 

 for the membranes covering these cells and the pollen thread 

 are extremely thin, admitting of ready permeation of the circu- 

 lating fluid. The ovules are of a pear shape form, a yellow 

 colour, and coated with a smooth membrane. They are attached 

 to the placenta by an elongated hilum rising from their inner 

 side near the narrow extremity, with the greater diameter up- 

 wards, the foramen being at the lower and narrow extremity. 

 Each ovule consists of two coats, the primine and secundine, 



