154 BOTANICAL GAZETTE : {il 
results of these studies have already been published,’ and the 
present paper isa record of some of the more striking facts, 
especially in regard to the antipodal cells, brought to light in 
more recent investigations. It is hoped that it will soon be ; 
possible to give a fuller account of these points, as well asa 
study of the development of the embryo in the forms under com 
sideration. : 
There is a growing tendency to regard the simpler mono 
cotyledons, z. ¢., those having either no floral envelopes, or incon 
spicuous ones, as the more primitive types, instead of assuming, 
as was formerly done, that they are degenerate forms descended 
from petaloideous ancestors. The ‘present view is clearly 
expressed in the arrangement of the orders of monocotyledots 
in Engler and Prantl’s Natiirliche Pflanzenfamilien.’ Engler's- 
conclusions are drawn mainly from a study of the flowers, and 
as yet but little has been done, at least of late years, in the study 
of the development of these presumably primitive types. | 
During the past two years I have made somewhat extensive 
collections of material for these investigations, but as yet only 
a small part of the material has been worked over, and the results 
here given are only preliminary to what is hoped will be much 
more complete, studies which may~ perhaps help to clear ¥ 
some of the questions as to the affinities of the lower angie” 
sperms. 
SPARGANIUM. ao 
The genus Sparganium is a small one, probably comprising 
not more than ten species, mostly inhabitants of northern region 
but with representatives in New Zealand and Australia. Ve | 
ganium is usually included with Typha in the order Bue | 
but Engler has separated it as the type of a special order, SP t 
ganiacee, with the Pandanacez as its nearest relatives. F 
Some years ago, I had occasion to examine the structuf® t 
*CAMPBELL, A morphological study of Naias and Zannichellia. Prot cal at | 
emy of Sciences III. Bot. 1: 1-61. 1897. 
Development of Lilza. Annals of Botany 12: 1-28. Mr. 1898. 
? Die natiirlichen Pflanzenfamilien II. 1: 183 ff. 1889. 
