1905] COULTER & LAND—TORREYA TAXIFOLIA 169 
we have observed (jig. 22). We could not detect the formation of a 
ventral canal cell or nucleus, or anything that stood for such a struct- 
ure at later stages. A ventral nucleus was expected, for a distinct 
ventral canal cell among Coniferales seems to be restricted to the 
Abieteae and does not always occur in them, and there seemed to be 
no excuse in our preparations for missing it. We are fully aware 
that all previous negative evidence as to the occurrence of at least a 
ventral nucleus in archegonium-forming gymnosperms has proved 
to be deceptive, but a study of the behavior of the central cell of 
Torreya, from the formation of the neck cell to fertilization, not only 
failed to show any indication of division but suggested that it may 
not occur. In 7. californica a spindle seen twice in the central cell 
was interpreted by Miss ROBERTSON (g) as representing the ‘cutting 
off” of a ventral nucleus, but no other traces of it could be found. 
In the single case in which two archegonia were observed, they 
were at opposite sides of the gametophyte, with the tip of a pollen 
tube between them. 
At the time of fertilization the gametophyte contains 400-800 
cells, with extremely thin walls and scanty cytoplasm (fig. 23). The 
only differentiation observable is the abundant accumulation of 
reserve food in the peripheral cells of the antipodal region. The 
whole mass of endosperm at this period usually measures 20 by 30#; 
while in the mature seed the endosperm mass is ordinarily about 
20o™™ long by 14™™ at its widest part, and all of it surcharged with 
starch and other food materials. The food material is particularly 
conspicuous in a broad central band extending from the advancing 
tip of the embryo and widening to the antipodal end of the sac. Fig. 
5 shows the longitudinal extent of the band, and fig. 4 its cross-section. 
The peculiar behavior of the endosperm after fertilization will be 
considered under the discussion of the maturing of the seed. 
FERTILIZATION. : 
The forcible discharge of the contents of the tube may be inferred 
from the vacuole-like appearance in the center of the egg, produced 
by the inrush (figs. 24 and 25). The male nucleus in its cytoplasmic 
sheath passes through the cytoplasm of the egg and comes in contact 
with the egg nucleus. The male cytoplasm becomes closely appressed 
