123 



Figs 8 and 9 depict the graduai disappearance of their 

 cell content. 



In one case, however, it was found that both the 

 megaspores nearest the chalaza and the next foUowing 

 one had begun to germinate. Fig. 10 shows the former 

 one containing two nuclei in resting condition and the 

 later one with the nucleus preparing to divide. The two 

 crushed upper megaspores are to be seen as a dark 

 staining mass on the top of the "row of two". Similar 

 diviations from the usual course of events are regularly 

 met with in Benthamia and Davidia, where either ail, the 

 middel one or the chalazal one of the megaspores formed 



Fig. 7. 



Fig. 8. 



Fig. 9. 



Fig. 10. 



in the great sporogenous tissue begin to struggle for 

 dominance. Even for the related family of Araliaceae 

 Ducamp (1902) has figured ressembUng stadia. Most 

 often such "abnormalities" are met with only occasionally, 

 especially, when scanty material is used; surely they are 

 of more common occurence than generally supposed and 

 should never be neglected. In another paper one of us 

 (Palm 1915) has discussed at some length the différent 

 factors that might be supposed to bring about the growing 

 out of the chalazal megaspore as well as of other cells 

 of the tétrade. 



It should be mentioned, too, that the sort of megaspore 



