340 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [NOVEMBER 
inferior vascular supply has something to do with their failure to 
develop. 
The bundles passing to the inner fleshy layer begin to branch a 
little higher up than do those of the outer layer. There is some 
branching in the basal papilla; after passing out to the inner fleshy 
layer there is repeated forking, as shown in fig. 8, so that a transverse 
section taken at the level of the archegonia shows 40 to 60 bundles. 
After passing from the stony layer, these bundles run in the outer 
part of the inner fleshy layer of the integument and extend up to the 
free portion of the nucellus. Occasionally a bundle continues in 
the inner fleshy layer beyond the beginning of the free portion of the 
nucellus, but in no case was a bundle found entering the nucellus 
itself. Occasionally a small bundle passes through the middle of the 
basal papilla, through the thin portion of the stony layer, and into the 
tissue at the base of the endosperm. The development of the bundles 
and the significance of the various details of the vascular system have 
not been attempted. 
IV. THE FEMALE GAMETOPHYTE. 
Stages showing the origin and early development of the female 
gametophyte were not secured. Since fruiting plants are compara- 
tively rare, and since they cannot be distinguished from vegetative 
specimens until the cones are well started in their development, the 
earliest stages could be obtained only by a vandal-like mutilation of 
plants large enough to bear cones. The youngest ovules, collected 
early in November, were about 8™™ in length, and showed the arche- 
gonium initials. The gametophyte had become cellular throughout, 
no free nuclear portion remaining at the center. Only one small cone 
had ovules as young as this, the ovules in the cones of this date meas- 
uring about 1°™ in length and showing the central cell of the arche- 
gonium. 
During November, December, and January the pressure exerted 
by the young gametophytes is remarkable. At a slight cut into the 
tough layer which is to become stony, a distinct snap can be heard, 
the cut gapes open, and the gametophyte protrudes. Later, when its 
cell walls have become firmer, the gametophyte retains its form when 
cuts are made into the stony layer. When an ovule in which the 
