1892. | The seed coats of Malvacee. (a ae 
HIBISCUS MILITARIS Cav.; figs. IX, X, XI. —The first layer, 
a, of the outer integument is most prominently developed. This 
layer gives rise to the seed hairs. These hairs, 4, are spindle- 
shaped, with the walls thin and fragile. The walls of the 
basal cell are stronger than the neighboring cells. The seed 
hairs are made up of single cells each containing a small 
amount of granular matter at the base. The color of the in- 
tegument is chestnut brotvn. Cellsin the second layer, 6, are 
elongated tangentially. The palisade layer, c, is composed of 
large cells, wide in comparison with their length. The cell- 
Cavity is comparatively small, the nodosity prominent. The 
light line, /, is strong and large. Under ordinary magnification 
(} objective) it appears as an unbroken band across the outer 
end of the cells. Using a strong magnification (jy or 7, oil 
immersion) each cell-wall interrupts the line. The portion of 
the light line in each cell is divided or nearly divided into 
two or three bodies. Under an analyzer the light line takes 
on blue a little earlier than the adjoining field. When the 
field is most intense blue the light line is dark on the inner 
border and dark blue on the outer. Just before the section 
comes into focus the light line appears dark taking on the 
characteristic colors when in focus, while the color of the ad- 
Joining field does not depend upon the focus. A thick section 
shows the following colors under the analyzer, blue, green, 
yellow, pink. The colors appear only above the cell-cavity. 
The portion below the cell-cavity gives only blue and yellow 
distinctly. The cell-cavity agrees with the upper portion 
of the cells. The nodosity does not change polarized light. 
The other cells of the seed-coat give no decided reaction 
under the analyzer. After isolation a cell parts easily im- 
mediately below the cavity and sections often behave in a 
similar manner, The cells, fig. X, are usually pentagonal 
and somewhat elongated in the direction of least circumfer- 
ence. (Fig. XI, 
1 he sub-palisade portion, d, is composed of three prominent 
ayers a 
This layer has a great amount of dark coloring matter, which 
‘ 
ayer, 103m: sub- alisade layer, 58 
, ’ BP. 
Lake City, Fila. - ; 
