GAGER: GLANDS IN THE EMBRYO OF ZEA 133 
ical necessity.” This suggestion, I think, may be dismissed at once 
as having too little warrant in the facts, and as being less probable 
than another. 
If the scutellar epithelium is primarily an organ for the absorp- 
tion of nutriment, as Sachs held, the variation described would be 
even more surprising, for we should reasonably expect an evagin- 
ation, or haustorial-like projection of the tissue into the endosperm, 
rather than an invagination, especially if the conception of the in- 
timate relation between structure and function is valid. 
If, however, we have to deal here with an epithelium whose chief 
function is secretion, then the variation described is one that might 
FIGURE 2 FIGURE 3 
IG. 2. Photomicrograph of cross-section of grain of maize. _ Tissue of scutellum at 
left, tissue of endosperm at right. Showing two glands in the scutellum. 
IG. 3. Photomicrograph of the upper gland of FIGURE 2, more highly magnified 
have been predicted, and when once seen, the greater surprise 
would be that it was not of more frequent occurence. The first 
impression, that the anomalous structures are glands, is only 
strengthened by miore careful observation and more thoughtful 
consideration. Any anatomist would at once classify the smaller 
invaginations as tubular glands, the simplest secreting structure 
next to the glandular epithelium, while the larger sac more nearly 
resembles a simple racemose gland. 
Evidence of secretory activity was not sufficient in any part of 
the sections to throw light on the function of these structures. 
Their function may be inferred only from their anatomy, in the 
light of other well-known physiological observations. 
