20 BOTANICAL GAZETTE {JULY 
strand connecting the cells (jigs. 45, 46). When the cytoplasm has 
shrunken slightly away from the cell wall they are particularly clearly 
observable. These connections appear to be in all cases between 
mother cells, and in no case have they been observed between the 
mother cells and the tapetum. Generally one such strand is seen 
connecting two cells, but not infrequently there are two or three or 
occasionally even more. There is no constriction or change in the 
nature of the connective as it passes through the cell wall. These 
connections are even larger and more conspicuous in O. gigas, where 
the mother cells are also much larger. They have not been observed 
in O. Lamarckiana or the other forms, but they doubtless occur in all, 
being probably smaller and more inconspicuous in some. 
Discussion 
The method of reduction described in this paper at once raises 4 
number of questions of prime importance from the cytological stand- 
point, as well as from that of the relation subsisting between heredi- 
tary and cytological phenomena. A discussion of all these features 
will not be attempted at this time, the intention of the writer being 
merely to indicate the general directions in which the facts point and 
the possible bearing which these data may be found to have on the 
problems connected with the phenomena of mutation in Oenothera. 
A fuller discussion of these subjects is reserved for a future time, after 
the presentation of further data. In the present communication 
reference will be made only to the most recent papers on reduction in 
plants, the purpose not being a review of the literature, or a dis- 
cussion of present views, except in so far as they bear directly on the 
matter in hand. 
The recent accounts of reduction in plants, given by BERGHS 
(3, 4, 5, 6), Grécorer (16), STRASBURGER (31), ALLEN (1, 2), 
MIvaKE (18), OverTON (22), ROSENBERG (25), YAmMaNnoucut (33); 
and others, have agreed in so far as the following general course of 
events is concerned: In synapsis a pairing of homologous maternal 
and paternal elements occurs either in the form of gamosomes (STRAS- 
BURGER and Mrvake), prochromosomes (Overton), or parallel 
threads (ALLEN, ROSENBERG, GREGOIRE, Bercus, Carpirr 7, and 
Yamanoucut). In every case two parallel threads result, which unite 
