34° BOTANICAL GAZETTE [MAY 
stain became a matter of some experimentation. In general, 
30 to 40 minutes in cyanin and 30 to 40 seconds in erythrosin 
gave the bests results. The use of turpentine between absolute 
alcohol and xylol was found to be of decided advantage in many 
cases. 
FLOWERS AND SPIKES. 
The flower consists of four similar cup-shaped sepals, four 
opposite stamens, and four alternate carpels. In early stages 
the sepals completely overlap the other organs, but later they 
‘spread sufficiently to 
allow the protruding 
styles to expose the 





a 
OS 



branches, bearing an 
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ee anther on each branch. 
(\ : 
fect The anthers are biloc- 
Phd Teh 
reg ulate, and hence the 
) 
& 
= ie 
SLED 
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es 
relat: 

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group of four carpels 
is surrounded by six- 
teen pollen-sacs. The 
flowers are nearly ses- 

g 

Fic. 1.—Illustrations of spikes: a, X 3 size; 3, 
X #36 Xd x2 sile on the vertical ' 
; spike, alternating in 
such a way that the spiral] arrangement is clearly seen (fig. I). 
From these spikes longitudinal and transverse sections were 
cut. It can be seen that the first and last longitudinal sections 
from such a cylindrical spike would give cross-sections of stigmas, 
styles, and ovaries; while those cut from the center would give 
two rows of longitudinal sections. Cross-sections of the spike 
would of course give longitudinal sections of ovaries, styles, and 
stigmas, but in a plane at right angles to the longitudinal sections 
mentioned above. 
THE OVULE. 
The embryo sac is much more deep-seated than in many other 
plants, occurring in the center of the nucellus, and surrounded 

