194 THE PHENOMENON OF 



formation advancing to a new individualisation, so are 

 the compound masses of cellular tissue, which do not 

 themselves become rejuvenised, but enclose parts in 

 process of Rejuvenescence, dissolved and destroyed. 

 Thus, in the development of the seed of the Phanero- 

 gamia, the enveloping tissue of the nucleus (the axis of 

 the ovule or seed-bud) is first resorbed in mass, as the 

 embryo-sac increases in size ; soon afterwards, the tissue 

 formed in the embryo-sac, the albumen or endosperm 

 surrounding the embryo, is again either wholly or 

 partially consumed, while the embryo enclosed by it 

 advances in its development inside the seed. A similar 

 process takes place again in germination, for in albumi- 

 nous seeds a softening and solution of the albumen takes 

 place at this period. We find examples of a gelatinous 

 swelling up of very thick-coated albumen-cells, at the 

 period of germination, especially in many Palms (Phcenix, 

 Manicaria, Thytelephas), and many LeguminosaB (Cercis, 

 Cathartocarpus, Ceratonia, GleditscJiia, Tamarindus, 

 JBau/iinia, Parkinsonia, Dialium, Mimosa, &c.) A similar 

 gelatinous unfolding of the cells occurs also in the internal 

 layer of cells of the testa (the epithelium of the seed), as, 

 for instance, in the quince and many Cruciferae. The 

 remarkable expansion of certain layers of cells of the spore- 

 fruit of Marsilia, producing at the dehiscence of the fruit 

 the gelatinous mass issuing in the form of a long worm, on 

 which are attached the likewise gelatinous indusia en- 

 closing the individual sori, also deserves mention here.* 



While the phenomena of putting off the old clothing 

 of the cells, examined up to this point, have displayed to 

 us only the external side of the process of Rejuvenescence, 

 the consideration of the phenomena of solution, through 

 which the newly-shaped products are prepared in the 

 contents of the cells, must necessarily carry us deeper into 

 the essence of Rejuvenescence. The process of solution and 

 transformation in the contents of the cell, invades more or 



* ' Explor. Scientifique d'Algerie,' Bot., t. xxxviii, f. 24-26 ; Schnizlein, 

 1 Iconographia.' Marsileaceae, f. 4. 



