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NAIAS. 187 | 
pulp or young cellular tissue, which is here and there bulged 
out into rounded protuberances, the future leaves ? Below this 
occurs a crowded mass of young leaves, and cellular setiform 
bodies. And about this part, and perhaps generally axillary, 
will be found the cellular bodies, the commencement of the 
organs of reproduction. 
These, very closely resemble an ovulum with one integu- 
ment at an early period of development, the nucleus protrud- 
ing considerably. 
This protruded part is gradually covered in by the growth 
of the annulus, and will then be found, (so it has seemed to 
me) to present appearances either referable to the male, or 
female organ. 
There are some other appearances more identifiable with 
as pistillary structure, but the parts are so mixed up with cel- 
lular growths, and the axis is so lobed, that I speak with some 
hesitation concerning these. Occasionaily I have seen bi-lobed 
cellular bodies with a small obscure central nucleus, which 
correspond fairly with the received notions of carpellary 
structure, and in which, from the smallness of the nucleus or 
cavity, the formation would be towards the centre. 
It appearsto me contrary to all analogy to assume the 
ovuliform bodies to be young pistilla, because in all pistillary 
plants, the pistillum is formed first, the placenta and the pro- 
ductions from it, subsequently. 
In Naias, if these be females, the development is reversed. 
There are many curious speculations arising from the exami- 
nation of Naias, and if the ovuliform bodies be pistilla, the 
ovulum is evidently naked throughout its first periods of 
development. 
If they are young females, the only explanation is, to consi- 
der the ovulum or nucleus as the direct continuation of the 
axis of the parent plants, but this will not explain the 
males, which are never perhaps terminal bodies. 
[I have seen no gradation of development of the outer tunic, 
the transition from a completely formed stamen, to a very ru- 
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