88 BOTANICAL GAZETTE | AUGUST 
another at the equator. These generally appear to be longerand 
more abundant than any of the other radiating fibers, but heir 
identity in appearance with the connecting fibers makes it 
impossible in many cases to determine whether they extend to 
the poles or not. 
From the above observations it seems to me to be improbable 
that there is any fundamental difference between the fibers of 
the three systems. While for convenience of discussion it is per 
haps best to retain the classification heretofore used, it is worth 
while to understand clearly just what significance is to be attached 
to the different terms. By connecting fibers I mean those which 
lie entirely in the spindle and extend across the equator. Mantle 
fibers are those which lie entirely within the spindle and aft 
attached to the chromosomes. ‘The spindle is understood, thet, 
to be made up of the mantle fibers and the connecting fibers 
Radiating fibers are those which, connected in small part with © 
the spindle, generally if not always at the poles have at least 
one end lying free in the cytoplasm. That this definition of 
radiating fibers may have to be slightly extended will appea 
later. s 
Whether there is any difference in origin of the various fibers : 
I have -not attempted to discover. The recent researches of 
Belajeff,33 Osterhout, Mottier, and others, have indicated that all 
firmed by later investigators.35 So far as my observations §% 
the onion radiating fibers seldom appear at this stage. Nemes 
however, has described them as first appearing in the very ™ : 
prophases and persisting through the metaphases. Theit 
tory, as Nemec describes it, is of much interest. The 
* Zur Kenntniss der Karyokinese be den Pflanzen. Flora 79: 439 1894 
‘“ i" ; ; 
Puts Kerne u. Kernkorperchen in meristematischen u. sporogenen Gewebem 
eltrage zur Biologie der Pflanzen 72225. 
3 Hor, Joc. cit., and NEMEC, (oc. cif. 
