Sax: FERTILIZATION IN FRITILLARIA PUDICA 517 
are other processes of interest. Many cases were observed where 
the contents of the nucleus of the remaining synergid were in the 
spireme stage. Other stages in the division of the synergid as 
well as the two-celled stage were observed. No stage of develop- 
ment beyond the two-celled stage was observed. 
Several stages were found where the normal antipodal nucleus 
was dividing. It will be interesting to follow the development 
of the dividing synergid and the antipodal nucleus through later 
stages of embryo and endosperm development. 
It was noted that the embryo sac becomes longer and curved 
as it develops. In some stages of early embryo development, 
it is bent at almost right angles. 
DiIscussION 
The cases of the entrance of the pollen tube into the embryo 
sac, although few, throw some light on problems relating to this 
process. There is no evidence in Fritillaria pudica to show that 
the synergid empties its contents into the micropyle in order to 
aid in the entrance of the pollen tube, as has been suggested by 
several writers. The fact that all the cells of the egg apparatus 
are intact at the time the tip of the pollen tube is in contact 
with the wall of the embryo sac excludes such possibilities in 
Fritillaria pudica. 
The pollen tube turns along the nucellus and apparently is 
attracted as close as possible to the nucleus of a synergid before 
entering. One synergid is practically always destroyed by the 
entering pollen tube. The suggestion lies close at hand that the 
synergid is a factor in attracting the pollen tube. The suggestion 
that the synergid, or parts of it, are used as food by the pollen 
tube, seems quite tenable. 
It is practically certain that in Fritillaria pudica the “X- 
Kérper”’ of Nawaschin are more or less disorganized nuclei. 
They may be two tube nuclei, but whether there are two tube 
nuclei formed here has not been determined. Or one of the red 
bodies may be the disintegrating nucleus of the synergid through 
which the pollen tube has passed. At all events it is clear that 
the ‘“X-Kérper” of Nawaschin are more or less disorganized 
nuclei, and not disintegrating masses of cytoplasm from which 
