THE ABORTION OF OVULES 353 



The following outline-figures will serve to illustrate the fore- 

 going remarks. 



Albizzia Lebbek 



C 9 inches. 



A 7z inches. 



B 6 inches. 



E Whinches. 



D Q^ inches. 



A 



KJ 



These figures illustrate the relation between the contractions of the 

 legumes and the failure of ovules shortly after the fertilisation of the ovary, 

 the contraction being greatest when contiguous ovules abort, and least 

 when only one fails. 



All the figures are greatly reduced, but on the same scale. The seeds 

 are indicated by large black spots, and the ovules by small black ones. 

 In these diagrams it is assumed that the pod can be seen through. The 

 seeds and ovules are, of course, arranged alternately on the two valves. 



Many of the features of the legumes of Albizzia Lebbek 

 are exhibited by the irregularly moniliform pods of Cytisus Cytisus 

 Laburnum^ though here the ovules do not fail early but proceed 



23 



