94 



THE LIVING CYCADS 



enter the base of the ovule, and each strand forks, one 

 part going to the inner fleshy layer where it branches 

 repeatedly, and the other going to the outer fleshy 

 layer, the outer series branching only a few times and 



39 



40 



Figs. 39-40. — Dioon edule: two stages in the development of the 

 ovule and female gametophyte: Fig, 39, soon after pollination, the 

 female gametophyte consisting of a layer of protoplasm with numerous 

 free nuclei; Fig. 40, later, the female gametophyte, having become cel- 

 lular throughout. Magnified. 



only at the base of the ovule, so that there are about a 

 dozen straight, unbranched vascular strands extending 

 from the base of the ovule to its apex. Most of these 

 features, at a stage before the inner fleshy layer has 

 become thin and dry, are shown in Fig. 40. 



