MR. W. GRIFFITH ON THE GENUS GNETUM. 301 



towards its apex. This envelope does not at this period entirely enclose the nucleus : the 

 points of some of the lacinise or divisions project occasionally beyond the apex of the outer 

 envelope. The nucleus is an oval or oblong cellular body, rounded off at its apex, which 

 is composed of lax cellular tissvie. The next change consists in the commencement 

 of the obliteration of the longitudinal fissure existing along the posticous face of each 

 outer envelope, and of an extension of the inner coat over the nucleus, the apex of which 

 becomes more or less depressed, — the centre of the depression, however, projecting in the 

 form of a cone of a vei*y slight elevation. At the time of iioweriug, or of the exsertion 

 and dehiscence of the anthers, the fissui'e originally existing along the upper face of the 

 outer coat has disappeared, with the exception of a small portion at the apex of the ovvdum 

 which remains unclosed throughout : the ovula are at this period in some species oblique. 

 The inner envelope is generally entirely enclosed within the outer ; the points of its lacinise 

 reach, however, to the opening existing in the apex of this latter, and occasionally, but 

 by no means universally, project beyond it to a short distance. This coat has undergone 

 scarcely any change, and corresponds in shape to the cavity of the outer envelope. The 

 nucleus is completely covered by both integuments, and its apex, which continues of the 

 same form, is occasionally tinged with brown. Within its substance, which is entirely 

 cellular, and towards its centre, there exists a small cavity, lined with a membranous sac, 

 attached apparently to the apex of the cavity, and containing a number of minute 

 grumous-looking brown masses, arranged without any obvious regularity. This sac* exists 

 at a rather early period, and is developed within a cavity formed by some excavating 

 process. 



A short tune after the fall of the male flowers an extraordinary change will be found to 

 have occurred, consisting of the very rapid and apparently sudden development of a new 

 membrano-cellular envelope between the second coat and the nucleus. This new forma- 

 tion, which I may term the additional coat, envelopes the nucleus pretty closely, and is 

 continiied upwards beyond the apex of the nucleus into a cylindrical tubular process, the 

 mouth of the tube being laciniate or fimbriated. At the period now referred to, its apex 

 barely projects beyond the outer envelope. During its development, no particular change 

 has taken place either in the original integuments or nucleus. At a somewhat later 

 period, the ovula (except in the instance quoted below t), hitherto concealed by the invo- 

 lucrum, will be found exposed, and the outer coat to have become of a green colour : 

 the opening through its apex is distinct, and its direction vertical. The second envelope 

 continues unchanged. Tlie tubular prolongation of the additional or tliird envelope now 

 projects through the openings in the original coats to a considerable distance. The mouth 

 of the tube is also rather dilated, and the fimbriae of its margin spread out irregularly 

 and to various extents. The whole of the tubular prolongation has become tinged ^^•ith 

 brown, in some cases approaching to black. 



It is to this stage or period that the desci'iptions of those authors who attribute 

 a style and stigma to this genus apparently refer. Both Dr. Brown and Prof. lindley 



* This sac I consider to be the amnios, with which it agrees in its develoi)inent and subsequent disappearance, 

 t In one species, G. Brunonianum, the ovula are at an early period exposed, owing to the obsoleteness of the annu- 

 late iuvolucrum. 



