(323 ) 
particularly the former. It still appears to be an open ques- 
tion as to the morphological nature of the androecium and 
little or nothing has been done to compare the earlier stages 
of development in widely differing representatives of this 
family. It shall be the aim of this paper to follow, as closely 
as the writer has been able to observe, the process of develop- 
ment of the essential organs in the pistillate flowers, to 
describe the anatomy of those organs especially with refer- 
ence to the work of fecundation and seminal development, 
and the behavior of the pollen-tube. It is hoped that light 
may be thrown upon the morphology of the floral organs and 
upon the problems of nutrition. 
he methods used were those most commonly employed in 
embryological researches. The material was fixed by two 
methods, viz., the use of Flemming’s stronger solution, and 
of an acetic-acid-alcohol mixture in which the ingredients 
were in the following proportions: glacial acetic acid 1 part, 
70 per cent. alcohol 2 parts. The latter proved to be more 
satisfactory in some cases, where the presence of oil in the 
embryo-sac and vicinity rendered the use of osmic acid mix- 
ture inconvenient. In the use of both media, however, good 
fixations generally resulted. 
In this connection the writer desires to express his appre- 
ciation of the kindness of those who have in various ways 
assisted in this work: to Professor F. E. Lloyd, at whose 
instance this problem was undertaken and whose helpful 
suggestions have from time to time been very acceptable; to 
Professor N. L. Britton and Dr. D. T. MacDougal, through 
whose courtesy the author was given the privileges of the 
laboratories and plantations of the New York Botanical, 
Garden during the summer of 1902; also to Hon. William 
Fawcett, Director of the Hope Gardens at Kingston, Jamaica, 
who so kindly furnished the material of Fevzllea, to Dr. 
David Griffiths for the material of Apodanthera, and to 
Messrs. Peter Henderson & Co. for the use of plants on their 
trial grounds on Long Island. 
