RESERVE CELLULOSE. 3 



The seeds of Liliaceae which were examined arc from genera which represent 

 all of the endemic tribes but one, and thirteen of the thirtj-two families into which 

 Engler and Prantl divide the order. 



From its universal occurrence in these thirteen families, wliich are not closely 

 related, but range from the beginning of the system to the end, one may fairly argue 

 the wide distribution of reserve cellulose in the Lily family. 



Seeds of the following plants were examined and found to contain reserve cellulose. 

 Liliaceae; Toficldia calyculata, Wahlnb. Galtonia candicans, Decsne. 



Colchicum autumnale, L. Ornithogalum caudatum, Aut. 



Asphodelus luteus, L. Muscari botryoides, DC. 



Antericum liliago, L. Asparagus officinalis, L. 



Allium cepa, L. Smilacina racemosa, Desf. 



ursinum, L. trifolia, Desf. 



Lilium martagon, L. Polygonatum multifiorum, All. 



Fritillaria imperialis, \j. Convallaria majalis, L. 



Tulipa gesneriana, L. Streptopus amplexifolius, DC. 



Lloydia serotina, L. . Paris quadrifolia, L. 



Scilla sibii'ica, Andrs. Trillium ovatum, Pursh. 



Hosta caerulea, Tratt. Smilax auriculata, Walt. 



Amaryllidaceae; Galanthus nivalis, L. Narcissus pseudo-narcissus, L. 



L-idaceae; Lis sibirica, L. Crocus vernus. All. 



pseudacorus, L. Gladiolus sp. ? 



Belamcanda cliiiiensis, Adans. 

 The general appearance of the colls of the endosperm of Polygonatum is typical of 

 many of the plants mentioned. 



A radial section of the seed gives a section of the endosperm cells in the plane 

 of their long axes. The cells are long, with parallel walls, and are radially arranged 

 about the embryo. 



The walls are thickened so much as, in many cases, to occupy one half the ori- 

 ginal cell-lumen. They are white and glistening, and the primary cell membrane, on 

 account of its different refractive power, shows as a dark line clearly outlining the 

 original cells. The contiguous cells preserve connection with one another, as far as 

 the meml)rane, by canals which penetrate the thickenings. 



The cell contents are of granular reserve protein matters and oil ; (he nucleus is 

 to be seen. PI. 1, fig. 1, shows a few of these cells. 



Cells of Iris pseudacorus, Asparagus officinalis, etc., present much the same appear- 

 ance. In PI. 1, fig. 2, a cell from the endosperm of Tris 2>setidacorus is shown. 



