MR. W. GRIFFITH ON THE GENUS GNETUM.  . | 301 
towards its apex. This envelope does not at this period entirely enclose the nucleus: the 
points of some of the laciniæ or divisions project occasionally beyond the apex of the outer 
envelope. The nucleus is an oval or oblong cellular body, rounded off at its apex, which 
is composed of lax cellular tissue. The next change consists in the commencement 
of the obliteration of the longitudinal fissure existing along the posticous face of each 
outer envelope, and of an extension of the inner coat over the nucleus, the apex of which 
becomes more or less depressed,—the centre of the depression, however, projecting in the 
form of a cone of a very slight elevation. At the time of flowering, or of the exsertion 
and dehiscence of the anthers, the fissure originally existing along the upper face of the 
outer coat has disappeared, with the exception of a small portion at the apex of the ovulum 
which remains unclosed throughout : the ovula are at this period in some species oblique. 
The inner envelope is generally entirely enclosed within the outer ; the points of its lacinise 
reach, however, to the opening existing in the apex of this latter, and occasionally, but 
by no means universally, project beyond it to a short distance. This coat has undergone 
scarcely any change, and corresponds in shape to the cavity of the outer envelope. The 
nucleus is completely covered by both integuments, and its apex, which continues of the 
same form, is occasionally tinged with brown. Within its substance, which is entirely 
cellular, and towards its centre, there exists a small cavity, lined with a membranous sac, 
attached apparently to the apex of the cavity, and containing a number of minute 
grumous-looking brown masses, arranged without any obvious regularity. This sac* exists 
+ at a rather early period, and is developed within a cavity formed by some excavating 
process. 
A short time after the fall of the male flowers an extraordinary change will be found to 
have occurred, consisting of the very rapid and apparently sudden development of a now 
membrano-cellular envelope between the second coat and the nucleus. This new forma- 
tion, which I may term the additional coat, envelopes the nucleus pretty closely, and is 
continued upwards beyond the apex of the nucleus into a cylindrical tubular — ho 
mouth of the tube being laciniate or fimbriated. At the period now referred to, its apex 
barely projects beyond the outer envelope. During its development, no particular change 
igi i | hat later 
has taken place either in the original integuments or nucleus. At a somewhat | 
å w +), hitherto concealed by the invo- 
period, the ovula (except in the instance quoted belo | o" 
lucrum, will be found exposed, and the outer coat to have become of a green colour: 
* . * - | g elo à 
th i i is distinct, and its direction vertical. The second envelope 
the opening through its apex is distin ook the additional or third envelapeiiów 
continues unchanged. The tubular prolonga | 
- projects through the openings in the original coats toa considerable unde itn em 
of the tube is also rather dilated, and the fimbriæ of its margin sp aa irregular | ud 
and to various extents. The whole of the tubular prolongation has me tinged ` 
brown, in some cases approaching to black. 
It is to this stage or period that the descriptions of those tinker 
a style and stigma to this genus apparently refer. Both Dr. Brown an ; : 
Trail Linda tbe du gue, Vii Mid AMO NOM MEA Lo 
+ In one species, G. Brunonianum, the ovula are at an early 
late involucrum, 
