Sax: FERTILIZATION IN FRITILLARIA PUDICA 511 
nucleus is twisted, and much coiled, and is small at both ends. 
The end to the left is nearer the polar nucleus and curves 
beneath the thick central portion. 
The contents of all of the male nuclei which are free in the 
cytoplasm of the cells of the embryo sac show great similarity. A 
typical, very distinct example is shown in Fic. 7. The chromatin 
contents are in an irregular network. Usually somewhat larger 
chromatin granules are present in the network in the central 
portion of the male nucleus (Fics. 1, 6, 7). There are apparently 
no nucleoli to be seen at this stage. The male nuclei stain darker 
than other nuclei of the sac with the stains used. 
After the male nuclei are discharged, there are usually two 
dark staining bodies to be seen in the end of the pollen tube. 
These bodies, the ‘‘X-Kérper’’ of Nawaschin, often show struc- 
ture and appear to be more or less disorganized nuclei, but in some 
instances one or both are entirely lacking in structure. They 
are of various shapes. Usually, however, one is nearly spherical 
while the other is larger, ovoid, and often pointed at one end 
(Fic. 9). In this figure the bodies also show definite nuclear 
structure. They persist throughout all stages of fertilization and 
even in young embryo development. That these bodies are 
nuclei can hardly be questioned. They are probably the two 
vegetative nuclei corresponding to the vegetative nuclei, (c) and 
(d), in Fics. 3B and 3C. 
The male nucleus, when in contact with the egg nucleus, is 
usually coiled or curved. In some few cases, however, the male 
nucleus is straightened out when it first comes in contact with 
the egg nucleus. Fic. 4 shows a long tapering male nucleus with 
the large end touching the egg nucleus. Fic. 8 shows a male 
nucleus with the large end in contact with the egg nucleus. Many 
cases of these examples have been observed and usually the male 
nucleus is larger at the point of contact with the egg. 
Whether the male nucleus reaches the egg nucleus while 
straightened out or coiled, sooner or later it becomes more or 
less curved around one side of the egg nucleus. FIGs. 10, II, 12 
and 13 show the male nucleus partly curved around the egg 
nucleus. In Fic. 13, the side of the egg nucleus is somewhat 
indented where the male nucleus is in contact. This is not 
uncommon. : 
