6 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [ JULY 
‘The ultimate fate of the long persistent synergid has not 
been made out with certainty as yet, but so far as it has been 
that it has at the time of fertilization, except that the wall 
becomes more distinct (sy, figs. 3,7, 9, 11, 72). In many cases 
where the embryo consisted of six or eight cells a single large 
cell could still be seen beside it, which seemed quite distinct — 
from the endosperm cells that press against the embryo on all — 
other sides, and this is interpreted as the still persistent synergid — 
(sy, fig. 12), and possibly the cell at the right of the embryo 
under the tapetal plug in fg. 73 is another case of the same sort. 
In several of the very oldest embryos seen there was a group of 
cells, smaller than any other cells in the embryo-sac, located in 
in this same position beside the embryo. The evidence obtained 
work, including probably the study of the sprouting seed, 
be necessary to make this certain and to determine the ultimate 
fate of these cells. 
The absolute size of the embryo-sac in these mature seeds is 
but little larger than when the egg is differentiated (figs. 2, 3 
73—note the magnification of each). The relative size and 
position with reference to the other parts of the fruit is shown in 
fig. 14. The oblate spheroidal mass of endosperm is about one 
eighth the length of the whole seed. It is separated from the 
integument at the top by three or four layers of cells of the 
tapetum and nucellus. Below is the great mass of perisperm 
which lies the flattened and distorted, but still darkly staining 
nucleus ( psn, fig. 15). In these cytoplasm layers are also found 
large clear, or finely granular, spherical masses of an undetermined 
chemical nature, but presumably serving as food ( psp. fig. 15+) 
The single integument is but two cells in thickness, and 
both of these take part in the formation of the seed coat oF 
