70 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. [Proc. 3D Ser. 



In Larix the radial precedes the parallel elongation, and 

 is of short duration, to judge from Belajeff's figures. In 

 Equisclum, Passijlora, and Lavatera the parallel elongation 

 is the first change observed in the cytoplasm; in Cobcea 

 alone it has not yet been observed. In Larix and Lavatera 

 this condition persists. In the former case, the elongated 

 meshes become part of the central network; in the latter 

 they become transformed into free fibers. In Passijlora 

 and Equiselum this condition is transitory. In Equisetum 

 the parallel elongated meshes are drawn out into an indefi- 

 nite mass of radially arranged fibers which grow out into 

 the cytoplasm, become parallel to each other, and finally 

 bend together into groups, so that, before its breaking 

 down, the nuclear wall is surrounded by a number of cones. 

 When the nuclear wall disappears, the fibers of these cones 

 grow into the nuclear cavity, come into contact with the 

 linin threads and the chromosomes, and form a multipolar 

 spindle. 



In Passijlora the radial elongation of the meshes of the 

 reticulum persists for some time. Some of the threads 

 stain more strongly and present an outline suggesting the 

 cones in Equisetum, though they are not formed of free 

 fibers. This condition of the cytoplasm is transitory and 

 seems to have nothing to do with the formation of the spin- 

 dle. This is formed directly from the network resulting 

 from the union of the linin reticulum of the nucleus with 

 that portion of the cytoplasmic reticulum immediately out- 

 side of the nucleus. On the breaking down of the nuclear 

 wall these unite to form a continuous network which fills 

 the entire space within the granular zone. The network 

 becomes pulled out at a number of points, and is changed 

 into free fibers which form the multipolar spindle. 



In Larix, Cobcea and Lavatera, no cones are present 

 before the nuclear wall disappears. It would seem that the 

 development of these cones is correlated with the slight 

 development of the granular zone. It hardly seems that it 

 would be possible to have such cones in forms like Cobcea 

 and Lavatera, where the granular zone is very dense. In 



