ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 87 



appearance of elastic pear-shaped bladders ending in a sickle-shaped 

 point. This is the calyx, within which the corolla is formed at a much 

 later period enveloped in a watery fluid. When mature the calyx splits 

 open, and the petals are exposed, copiously moistened by the fluid. 



Extrafloral Nectaries in Compositse.* — Dr. E. v. Wettstein points 

 out the existence of nectariferous scales in the following species of 

 Compositge : — Jurinsea mollis, Serratula lycopifolia, S. centauroides, and 

 Centaurea aljpina. The nectary is in all cases of very simple structure ; 

 the excretion of the saccharine fluid takes place through orifices which 

 are usually distributed uniformly over the surface of the scales, but in 

 Serratula are collected together below the apex. The nectar attracts 

 ants, which appear to keep off" noxious insects. 



Structure and Development of Seeds with ruminated Endosperm.t 

 — In continuation of previous observations on the seeds of the nutmeg, 

 Herr A. Voigt now extends his investigations to other seeds with rumi- 

 nated endosperm, belonging chiefly to Javanese Palmse and Anonaceae. 

 In the palms he distinguishes two types. 



The first type is illustrated by species of Calamus and by Adinorhytis 

 Calapparia. The appendages to the integuments which project inwards, 

 and which have no connection with the vascular bundles of the testa, 

 form nearly cylindrical cones at nearly equal distances from one another, 

 varying in number and length in diflerent species. After fertilization 

 the embryo-sac elongates considerably at the expense of the nucellar 

 tissue, and, when the ovary has attained about one-third of its ultimate 

 size, the appendages to the testa make their first appearance. While 

 the nucellar tissues gradually disappear, these project further into the 

 embryo-sac, especially on the side opposite to the raphe. They consist 

 of comparatively large thin-walled cells containing tannin, and are 

 covered by a small-celled ej)iderm. In the ripe seed the nucellus has 

 entirely disappeared ; the space inclosed by the integument is com- 

 pletely filled up by the embryo and the endosperm. 



In the second type among palms the appendages to the testa have 

 quite a different form, and their arrangement is closely connected with 

 the vascular bundles of the testa. They consist of plates, cushions, 

 and ridges, the lines of insertion of which correspond to the vascular 

 bundles; they vary greatly in breadth. To this type belong Actino- 

 phloeus amhiguus, PtycJiococcus paradoxus, Chamserops humilis, Ptycho- 

 sperma elegans, Caryota furfuracea, Nenga Wendlandiana, Archontophoenix 

 AlexandrsB, Areclia Catechu, and Pinanga KuMii. In the last-named 

 species the appendages also gradually consume the nucellus, and the 

 endosperm is not formed until the ridges are fully developed. In both 

 types the rumination probably begins a little before impregnation. In 

 all the species of palm examined the seed has only a single integument. 



In the seed of Myristica fragrans the structure of the endosperm is 

 very different. The ovule has two integuments, but the inner one covers 

 only the upper half of the nucellus. Almost the entire tissue of the inner 

 integument and of the upper portion of the nucellus passes over, soon 

 after the opening of the flower, into permanent tissue. The inner portion 



* SB. K. Akad. Wiss. Wien, July 12, 1888. See Bot. Centralbl., xxxv. (1888) 

 p. 398. 



t Ann. Jard. Bot. Buitenzorg, vii. (1888) pp. 151-90 (3 pis.). See Bot. 

 Centralbl., xxxvi. (1888) p. 134. 



