290 



F, O. BOWER. 



Germination of Ephedra. 



Seeds of Ephedra monostachya, and intermedia were sown 

 in order to compare their germination with that of Welwit- 

 schia, and Gnetum. 



Experiments were made in sowing the seeds in different 

 positions as shown in the following table : 



These experiments were confirmed by ohservation of a 

 large number of seeds less carefully sown. Though these 

 results cannot be regarded as conclusive, still it will be seen 

 that in the large majority of cases the position of the seed 

 during germination has a determining influence upon the 

 relation of the seed to the growing seedling ; moreover, the 

 difficulty in placing the seed with the axis of the embryo 

 exactly vertical may account for the want of strict unifor- 

 mity of these results with the conclusions drawn by Stras- 

 burger from the germination of E. campylopoda (' Conif. und 

 Gnet.,' p. 321). 



In those cases where the seed is carried up on the apex 

 of the cotyledons the nutritive materials of the endosperm 

 are completely absorbed by them. 



In cases, however, where the cotyledons were withdrawn 

 at an early stage from the seed, it was found that this took 

 place while considerable quantities of starch and protoplasm 

 still remained in the endosperm. In seeds which were 

 examined at a later period of germination these nutritive 

 materials of the endosperm were found to have been entirely 

 absorbed. 



There must therefore have been a transfer of these sub- 

 stances from the endosperm to the seedling after the cotyle- 

 dons had been withdrawn ; and since the suspensors and 

 remains of the nucellus maintain a direct connection be- 

 tween them, while the suspensors at least retain an appear- 

 ance of vitality, we must conclude that the transfer is con- 



