1907] BRIEFER ARTICLES 419 
lying side by side in Lilium candidum. They are not separated by 
a layer of nucellar tissue, and the two are in intimate contact along 
their inner faces. Because of their. position, BERNARD says it is im- 
possible to determine whether they are derived from two archesporial 
cells or from one that has divided longitudinally. So far as I am aware, 
these are the only recorded instances of a multicellular archesporium in 
the monocotyledons. 
In examining some slides of Lilium longiflorum, recently prepared 
by Miss ALLEN for general class use, I observed two megaspore mother 
cells in a single megasporangium. It is impossible in this instance that 
they should have arisen from the same primordial cell, since they are sepa- 
rated by a layer of somatic cells. As the accompanying figure shows, both 
are perfectly normal as to position, form, and protoplasmic content; the 
surrounding portions of the young ovule also present the usual appearances 
at the time just before the heterotypic division. There is every reason to 
expect that both of these archesporial cells would have given rise to normal 
female gametophytes.—MarcareEt C. Fercuson, Wellesley College. 
