1900] THE CELL PLATE IN HIGHER PLANTS 89 
indication of a spindle is an accumulation of hyaline substance 
around the nucleus, but in greater amount on the sides cor- 
responding to the poles of the future spindle. The whole body 
thus forms an ellipsoid spindle fundament (Az/age). This soon 
shows a filar structure and in many cases these fibers extend 
outward from the sides and cross in the equatorial region of the 
cell. The radiating fibers thus appear prior to the other fibers, 
or it would perhaps be more accurate to say that they grow more 
rapidly, as rudiments of the other fibers appear at the same stage 
in the polar regions. It should be noted here that no radiating 
fibers are described for these early stages, except those extending 
toward the equator. Such fibers, however, reach to the plasma 
membrane and are attached to it. The attachment is shown by 
a small accumulation of violet-staining material at the point of 
juncture. While Nemec states that the above mentioned fibers 
persist throughout the process of nuclear division to the begin- 
ning of the anaphases, his figures of the equatorial plate stage 
do not show them, but in connection with the late metaphases 
they are again figured. It seems to me probable that the two 
: Sets of fibers are not identical. It is not unlikely that those 
first described changed their position and became connecting or 
mantle fibers, while the later radiating fibers are a new growth. 
Nemec himself states that he believes that some new radiating 
fibers are formed during the late metaphases. I have been able 
to see some radiating fibers in the onion in connection with 
the €quatorial plate stage, but not in abundance nor of such 
length as Nemec described. They seldom reached beyond the 
“quator. When they were present they showed the same rela- 
tion to the other spindle fibers as has been described for the larch. 
MOS Lee dene of the cytoplasm in this stage requires a 
an ea, In the onion, it surrounds the spindle closely 
tt ie oe arabs be seen between the fibers in the polar region. 
it in Sieur slightly denser in the vicinity of the spindle than 
berry . cell-membrane. In older cells there are rrequent 
OUTER: the outer portion. In the larch an interesting dif- 
n frequently occurs. About midway between the cell 
