( 385 ) 
the case here, where it has been shown that the antipodals 
are never of more than transient duration. There is abso- 
lutely no evidence that these cells in the Cucurbitaceae are 
at all concerned in any of the formative or nutritive work 
carried on in the embryo-sac. In the development of some 
of the forms here considered the failure of the antipodals to 
develop is accompanied by a cessation of growth in that 
region not only in the embryo-sac but also in the cells of the 
nucellus which immediately surround them; so that in much 
later stages when the cells of the nucellus have expanded to 
many times their former size, the mass of cells referred to 
forms a sort of pocket into which is inserted the end of the 
vermiform prolongation of the endosperm (Cztrillus, Apodan- 
thera). Not only is this true, but a slight thickening of the 
walls of these cells takes place and an appearance, as if 
cutinized, is one of the more conspicuous features. Other 
cases of the retardation of the antipodal region have already 
been observed in 7ypha, Sagittaria, Oenothera and other 
genera. 
The process of fertilization and the origin of the embryo 
is still an open question in the Cucurbitaceae, except for the 
case of mesogamy cited by Longo inCucurdtta Pepo.* In 
the many preparations that were made and studied not one 
showed this phase with sufficient clearness to justify any con- 
clusions. There is evidence, however, that the processes of 
fertilization and embryo-sac development are normal.+ In 
the case of every species studied, except Coccznza, the pres- 
ence of the pollen-tube was detected in the micropyle and in 
many cases it had even penetrated through the tissue of 
nucellus into the embryo-sac. Inthe case of Cucurbtta Pepo 
the end of the pollen-tube was found in the micropyle before 
it had reached the embryo-sac. In its extreme end appeared 
the large vegetative nucleus and just posterior to this two 
smaller ones, presumably the generative nuclei (jig. 733). 
* Rend. R. Accad. Lincei, 10: 168-172. 190I 
+ Massart’s contribution to this subject was not accessible and reference 
to it has of necessity been omitted. 
