106 GERMINATION OF THE MICROSPORE 



also often begins while in its sporangium but in other i 

 growth begins after it has escaped from the sporangium and has 

 been carried by the wind <>r some insect visiting the flower for 



Fig. 78. The germination of the megaspore complete. The plant tlms 

 formed consists of a female gamete or egg cell, ?. below which arc two 

 synergidae and in the center are the two uniting polar nuclei, p, while at 

 the opposite end of the sac arc three antipodal cells, o; mi, micropyle; 

 1. integuments; /'. stalk <>r funiculus in which a vascular bundle, v, lias 

 developed t<> transport foods from the ovary t<> the ovule. 



food, to the stigma of the pistil. The stigma is admirably 

 adapted t" hold the microspore, being provided with minute out- 

 growths, and frequently sugar) solutions are exuded which 

 1 the spores to the Btigma. The real importance of these 

 sugan solutions is to nourish the microspores. It is evident 

 that these minute dust like cells can not contain sufficient food 

 to bring aboul an) considerable growth. It is noteworthy that 



