ON SOME PROTEIN CRYSTALLOIDS 89 



The graduai increase in quantity of the cytoplasmic, and corresponding 

 diminution of nucleolar erythrophilous matter, would seem to point to some 

 relation of the crystalloids to the nucleolus, which latter has been regarded 

 by some authors as a storehouse of nourishment. 



Stock has further shown that protein crystalloids are deposits of reserve 

 albumen, and Green(i) has lately examined the style of the lily, and states 

 that „ the distribution of nutritive material, especially starch, in this organ 

 was found to hâve a very definite relation to the progress of the pollen tube, " 

 and further, „ The nutrition of the tube is a process in which the grain 

 itself, and the tissue through which it grows take a part, both contain a 

 reserve material and enzymes ". 



May it therefore not be that the function of the placental hairs, so rich 

 in protoplasm and crystalloids, is to nourish and thus to guide the pollen 

 tube? 



A parallel chain of facts to that furnished by the life history of the hairs 

 is given by those epidermal cells lining the three slits which are placed 

 symmetrically in the tissue of the ovaries, and are formed by the upper 

 surfaces of the three carpellary leaves failing to unité at thèse places. In 

 young buds thèse cells show several nucleoli, frequently six. In older stages 

 the nucleoli diminish in number to one, which latter is often so diminutive 

 as to be ail but imperceptible : at this time minute hexagonal crystalloids 

 make their appearance in the cytoplasm, fig. 14, cr. Out of 50 such cells 

 examined in the ovary of a bud of 5 millemetres in length thére were : 



Nuclei with more than 2 nucleoli 19. 



Nuclei with 2 nucleoli 26. 



Nuclei with only 1 nucleolus 5. 



None of them showed erythrophilous bodies external to the nucleus. 

 Out of 50 cells from the ovary of an opening flower there were : 



Nuclei with more than 2 nucleoli o. 



Nuclei with 2 nucleoli 6. 



Nuclei with only 1 nucleolus 44. 



AU thèse cells showed the little crystalloids. 



Undoubtedly in this case, the number of nucleoli in the individual cells 

 is diminished to some extent by cell multiplication; and, if there is really 

 any connection between the crystalloids and nucleoli, this may account for 

 the small size of the nucleoli in thèse cells. 



(1) Geeen : Armais of Eotany, June 1894. 



