( 686 ) 



the ovules was in many cases to be ascribed to tlie strong tui-ges- 

 cence of these nucellus-cells only ; in older stages also the cells oi 

 the outer integuaient began to increase their volume, evidently also 

 by the increase of the cell-sap only. 



These strongly lengthened nucellus cells at first caused us to believe 

 that more than one embryosac is formed, but an accurate examination 

 of the preparations finally gave us the conviction tiiat only one 

 embryosac is found. Certainty on this point will be obtained only by 

 investigating the development and for this purpose the collected 

 material was unsuitable, for also in the youngest ovules the embryosac 

 was already completely formed. It is long-drawn, somewhat in the 

 shape of a dumb-bell, at the base extending near the chalaza, at the 

 top near the micropyle surrounded by a single layer of nucellus cells. 



Now it appeared that in the great majority of these embryosacs 

 nothing particular could be observed ; sometimes a little protoplasm 

 or more or less disorganised and swollen masses, but no egg-appa- 

 ratus, no polar nuclei and no antipodal cells, so that presumably in 

 nearly all the ovules a disorganisation had already taken place before 

 they were fixed. 



Only a few ovules presented more particularities and these we 

 shall describe here, in the first place those where a young embryo 

 was found. 



In an ovule, collected on August 22, there is found at the top of 

 the embryosac and filling this part of the latter entirely, a cellular 

 body with eight normal looking nuclei, making the impression of an 

 embryo. The rest of the embryosac is empty and only some disor- 

 ganised masses lie in it; of an endosperm nothing can be seen, no 

 more than of antipodals or embryosac-nucleus ; concerning this latter, 

 however, the possibility must be granted that it has fallen from the 

 preparation during the staining, although we do not think tins probable. 



In an ovule, collected on September 10, the top of the embryosac 

 is filled by a cell-mass of some 20 to 30 cells, the ^valls of which 

 are strongly swollen ; the nuclei are small and are in a state of 

 disorganisation as well as the rest of the protoplast. The whole makes 

 the impression of a more or less disorganised embryo. Further there 

 is in the embrosac a pretty large quantity' of protoplasm in which 

 we could find no nuclei. 



Finally we found in an ovule, collected on August 22, a still 

 larger cellular body, reminding us of an embryo. It consists of about 40 

 cells, the contents of which are still more disorganised, with swollen 

 cell-walls which strongly absorb staining substances. Having regard 

 to the former two preparations we are of opinion that this also 



