PHYSIOLOGICAL BOTANY. 



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approximated to each of these conical membranes, a long 

 funiculus was found ; this was either simple or giving off 

 a few branches, and generally consisted of four series of 

 long transparent cells. The upper extremity of each funi- 

 culus was considerably thicker, of a depressed spherical 

 form, and each cell contained one of the granules (areolae), 

 as is frequently observable in the Monocotyledons. In 

 Pinus pinaster, the funiculus has no appearance of sub- 

 division, but this finally appears at its ends. By tracing 

 their development until it is completed, we see that each 

 of the dark bodies, in which the funiculi terminate, are 

 embryos in a rudimentary state. Hence the author con- 

 cludes, that the plurality of the embryos in the order 

 Coniferae is perfectly constant. In a postscript in 1844, 

 R. Brown shows, that he had already given the plurality 

 of the embryos in the Cycadeae in his ' Prodromus Flor. 

 N. Holland./ but that Dupetit-Thouars had discovered 

 the principal fact. He then alludes to Schleiden's theory, 

 and says : " Schleiden ascertained the existence of my 

 areolae or corpuscles, and denominates them large cells in 

 the embryo-sac or albumen ; he states, that he has suc- 

 ceeded in preparing free the whole pollen-tubes from the 

 nucleary papillae to the bottom of the corpuscles. But if 

 my observations are correct," adds Brown, " and they 

 appear to be confirmed by those of Mirbel, the corpuscles 

 in Pinus are not developed until the following spring or 

 summer, and hence if Dr. Schleiden's assertion is correct, 

 the pollen must remain inactive for at least twelve months. 

 This is not altogether improbable," says Brown, " but 

 even if it were the case, it would not lead to the adoption 

 of Schleiden's theory. With respect to the Cycadeae, 

 adds Brown, under any circumstances it is certain that 

 the mere enlargement of the fruit, the consolidation of 

 the albumen, and the complete formation of the corpuscles 

 in its apex, are wholly independent of male influence ; for 

 he had seen instances of this in England, when the male 

 plants of the female Cycadeae which were examined did 

 not exist in the country. 



