28 Linnean Society. [Aprils, 



tered the foramina of the ovules. In those ovules which had been 

 penetrated by the pollen-tubes, these were traced by Mr. Henfrey 

 through the wide mouth of the outer coat and the narrow canal of 

 the inner, as far as the apex of the embryo-sac, which however they 

 never entered, but generally appeared to be directed a little to one 

 side and to lie in contact with its outer surface, just over the place 

 where the minute vesicles lie within. On the 31st, the previous 

 observations were repeated and confirmed on specimens in various 

 stages of growth. At this period, in some of the embryo-sacs one 

 of the vesicles had become divided into two cells by a horizontal 

 septum, the upper cell dividing again and growing out through the 

 endostome in a conical form to produce the confervoid filament de- 

 scribed by Mr. Brown, and which Mr. Henfrey believes Prof. Schleiden 

 to have mistaken for the pollen-tube. On the 3rd of June, the 

 author again satisfied himself that the vesicle within the embryo-sac 

 (the germinal vesicle) is the first cell of the embryonic body ; it 

 generally exhibits a slight collection of protoplasm at its base, and 

 soon after the pollen-tube reaches the surface of the embryo- sac 

 divides into two cells, the upper dividing again and growing out into 

 the articulated filament, the cells of which are formed by the pro- 

 duction of septa in the same way as in confervas, hairs of phanero- 

 gamous plants, &c. ; the mucilaginous layer (or primordial utricle of 

 Mohl) being rendered very evident by the application of iodine. At 

 the same time the lower part of the embryonic body enlarges and 

 soon perfectly fills the embryo-sac, the process of cell-formation by 

 which the embryo is produced varying apparently in diflrerent cases. 

 Generally the lowest cell enlarges very much and becomes filled 

 with dark mucilaginous matter, and then this is soon divided into a 

 number of cells by the fornjation of septa. In some cases two of the 

 germinal vesicles undergo development and two confervoid filaments 

 are produced. 



From these observations Mr. Henfrey concludes that the embryo 

 is really produced by the ovule itself; that the germinal vesicle exists 

 within the embryo-sac before the pollen exerts its influence ; that 

 the pollen-tube penetrates the coats of the ovule to reach the em- 

 bryo-sac ; and that the passage of the poUinic fluid through the in- 

 tervening membranes impregnates the germinal vesicle and deter- 

 mines its development into an embryo. The investigations having 

 been made with every precaution, and the results being in perfect 

 accordance with those of Amici, Mohl, Miiller and others, he be- 

 lieves them to be a sufficient refutation of Schleiden's views so far 

 as the plant in question is concerned. He regards, however, as 



