VOLUME XXVI NUMBER 4 
BOTANICAL GAZETTE 
OCTOBER 7898 
KARYOKINESIS IN THE ROOT TIPS OF ALLIUM 
fs 
Joun H. SCHAFFNER. 
(WITH PLATES XXI AND XXII) 
For several years the writer has desired to study in detail 
the formation of the achromatic spindle in the root tips of Ad/ium 
Cepa, having frequently seen interesting figures in the early 
stages of division while investigating the subject of centro- 
spheres in this plant. Especially was the desire increased when 
the interesting series of papers appeared from the Bonn Botani- 
cal Institute? dealing especially with the origin of the nuclear 
spindle. Accordingly a set of preparations was made, the 
material being killed in several fixing fluids, and stained in vari- 
ous ways, so that any irregularity due to technique might be 
eliminated. Flemming’s weaker and stronger fluid and chrom- 
acetic acid seemed to give the best results, although several 
others worked fairly well. So far as the appearance of the spindle 
was concerned there did not seem to be any great difference in 
the effect produced by the several fluids. Chrom-acetic acid is 
without doubt the best for general purposes, as it preserves the 
structures of the dividing nucleus just as faithfully as Flem- 
ming’s, and does not interfere with the action of the stains used. 
‘Contributions from the botanical laboratory of Ohio State University. IL. 
* Jahrbiicher fiir wiss. Bot. 30: 159-422. I 
