1895.] Embryology of the Ranunculacee. 245 
Tulasne claims to have observed five or six embryo-sacs in 
a single ovule; but it is probable that the methods used in 
the preparation of objects by earlier observers were less ac- 
Strasburger’? for Rosa livida. I quote from this author as 
follows: ‘‘Im fertigen Zustande sah ich die Embryosiicke 
stets in Mehrzahl den Eichenkern durchsetzen, sich nach 
hinten und im groéssten Theile ihres Verlaufs unmittelbar an 
einander haltend, um erst mit den vorderen Enden zu di- 
vergiren. Hier aus einander weichend wachsen sie in das 
umgebende Gewebe hinein (taf. vu, fig. 72), meist dringt 
einer bis zu den Integumenten vor, und dieser fiihrt dann auch 
allein den aus drei Zellen bestehende Eiapparat, wihrend 
es in den anderen bei einer Ansammlung formlosen Pro- 
toplasmas im vorderen Ende bleibt.” In Delphinium, as pre- 
viously stated, the two sacs are in contact for their entire 
length. The egg apparatus in each is normal and apparently 
well developed. Here the embryo-sacs are always covered by 
the nucellar cap, even after fertilization. The writer has 
seen in one case two embryo-sacs in Senecio aureus, and two 
in process of development in Fagus ferruginea.* The same 
has also been observed in Fagus sylvatica. 
Caltha palustris.—This species presents a number of in- 
teresting phenomena in the larger number of initial cells of 
the embryo-sac frequently met with and their subsequent be- 
havior. The structure and development of the ovule is the 
same as in Delphinium, except the larger size of its cells, 
especially those connected either directly or indirectly with the 
reproductive function. The initial cell of the embryo-sac 1s 
hypodermal, sustaining a closer genetic relation apparently to 
this layer than to the more centrally situated cells of the 
nucellus. Here, however, a greater number of initial- cells 
are present, forming in many cases what seems to be a massive 
archesporium. Sometimes three rather large initial cells may 
be seen ina longitudinal section of the ovular rudiment (fig. 
II), and occasionally four’ or more forming a small group of 
RAPE MOAS pla eaten cracker om 
seed Befruchtung und Zelltheilung 36. : 3 : 
Y paper, of which this species forms a part, is now in preparation. — 
*Benson Margaret, contributions to the embryology of the Amentiferz. 
Trans. Linn. Soc. Bot. II. 3: 409-424. 
