228 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [OCTOBER 
The contents of the male nucleus is at this time much more 
dense than that of the oosphere. 
The isolated ciliiferous band lying free in the protoplasm at 
the apex of the archegonium evidently retains its identity for a 
considerable time. It has been observed in several archegonia 
after the formation of many free nuclei by the repeated divisions 
of the oosphere. Frequently the spindles of some of these free 
nuclei in division have been observed between its spirals. The 
band ultimately disappears, its substance probably being con- 
sumed by the forming embryo. The primary function of the 
ciliiferous band thus certainly ends with the transporting of the 
male nucleus from the pollen tube to the archegonium. The 
exceptional size of the antherozoids of Zamia permits these fea- 
tures to be seen very plainly, while in the various plants in which 
the entrance of the antherozoids has been studied, they are so 
small that thus far the fate of the cilia and cytoplasm, which are 
not generally supposed to be concerned in fecundation, has not 
been determined with certainty. Professor Strasburger,> in his 
recent study of the fecundation of Fucus, concludes, mostly 
from comparative size, that shortly after the entrance of the 
antherozoid its cytoplasm unites with that of the egg cell, and 
only the nucleus continues its passage and unites with the egg 
nucleus. My observations clearly indicate that this is the case 
also in Zamia. 
A special examination has been made of the divisions of the 
oosphere immediately after fecundation for the occurrence of a 
centrosome which, if present, would be suggestive in connection 
with the centrosome-like body of the antherozoid. Thus far, 
however, I have been unable to find any indication of such an 
organ. Careful examinations have been made of dividing nuclei 
in many stages of development from the second division of the 
oosphere until the embryo is fairly well formed. The first divi- 
sion of the oosphere has not been observed. In many cases the 
kinoplasm may be found presenting somewhat the appearance 
5 Kerntheilung und Befruchtung bei Fucus. Jahrbiicher f. wissenschaft. Bot. 
30: 363. 1897. 
