Development of the embryo sac and endosperm in some 
seedless persimmons 
WILLIAM L. WoopBuRN 
(WITH PLATE 16) 
Some time ago observations were made on the development of 
seedless persimmons (Diospyros virginiana L.) in the neighborhood 
of Indiana University. Two or three questions then suggested 
have been at least partly answered as the result of further investi- 
gation. In addition certain facts have been obtained in regard to 
the development of the embryo sac and endosperm, which may be 
of sufficient interest to merit publication. After a brief report 
on the subject in the Proceedings of the Indiana Academy of 
Science, 1908, other work prevented further studies along that line 
until this winter. 
All the persimmon trees found in the vicinity of Indiana 
University are strictly dioecious. The pistillate flowers have 
aborted stamens and the staminate flowers have rudimentary 
carpels. In none of the former is there a suggestion of the develop- 
ment of pollen. Pollination must then be effected through the 
agency of insects, particularly bees, which frequent the blossoms 
in great numbers. Some pistillate trees are as far as three or 
four miles from any known staminate ones, consequently as large 
a number as 70 per cent or 80 per cent of the flowers frequently 
fail to be pollinated. These develop fruits usually of a smaller 
size but otherwise not of inferior quality. The relative number 
of seedless berries on an individual tree varies from year to year. 
Neither is there any special localization of the two kinds except 
that fewer seeds are found on the lower branches. The fruits 
developed in the near vicinity of staminate trees are usually quite 
full of seeds, seldom any being entirely without. 
As suggested above, a larger fruit is usually developed from 
those flowers in which pollination has occurred, but there are 
many trees on which a large per cent habitually fail to be polli- 
379 
