REPRODUCTION. 



209 



fertile l)rancli of Selaginella incequalifolia^ with macrosporangia 

 and vnicrosporaugia. 



Finally, in reference to what has been stated and what remains 

 to be considered, we will add the following in explanation of the 

 diagramatic figures (131 and 132). Both refer to the phanerogams. 

 In the figure (129) of Ifarsilia and that of gymnosperms (131) 

 we at once notice the provision made for the nourishment of the 

 embryo. The embryo is entirely surrounded and connected with 

 the nutritive tissue, the eiidosjperni. Fig. 132 represents the pro- 

 cess of fertilization among 

 angiosperms. In Marsilia 

 and the gymnosperms the 

 endosperm exists before 

 fertilization, while in the 

 angiosperms it is formed 

 after fertilization. Recent 

 investigations by the author ' 

 resulted in the probable con- 

 clusion that the ' ' antipodal 

 apparatus " which exists 

 before fertilization is not a 

 ' ' rudimentary ' ' organ, but 

 a peculiar structural arrange- 

 ment to serve in nourishing 

 the developing embryo. 

 Until recently the antipodal 

 cells were considered as 

 being without any physio- 

 logical function, but of suf- 

 ficient value to indicate a 

 ' ' phylogenetic rudiment. ' ' 

 As indicated, the subject is 

 perhaps capable of an en- 

 tirely different interpreta- 

 tion . There are cases {Salvia 

 prxitensis^ Zea Mays) in which the so-called antipodes prove to be 



Fig. 131. — Diagramatic longitudinal section 



through tiie ovule of a gyniuosperm. 



(After Sachs.) 



' Zur Embryologie der Phanerogamen, insbesoudere iiber die sogenaniilcn 

 " Antipoden." Nova Acta d. Ksrl Leop. Car. D, Ac. d. Naturf. 1890 (The Em- 

 bryology of Phanerogams, with special reference to the so called " Antipodes"). 



