BEHAVIOR OF THE POLLEN TUBE 93 
meets with cells of similar histological characters as those of the 
cells through which it has immediately passed, save in dimensions 
and in the mucilaginous condition of the inner lamella. Here 
they are irregular and isodiametric as above stated, and are derived 
in part from each element of the septum. Through this mass of 
tissue the pollen tube takes a more irregular course, showing 
some tendency to branch, and passes from the stylar tissue into 
the upper part of the basal septum, into, therefore, the epidermis 
above described as continuous with the columnar epidermis of the 
- 9. Ovule and part of the stylar tissue of Richardsonia pilosa, showing a 
of E ی‎ tubes. 
strophiole. Upon meeting with the ordinary thin-walled paren- 
chyma fof this, the tube abruptly turns at right angles to its 
former course (text fig. 9). In no case does the tube penetrate 
beyond the thick-walled fusion cells further than to basal septum. 
The contents of the pollen tube may be seen well in the lower 
region of the style. In properly stained preparations the genera- 
tive nuclei have been repeatedly found. The vegetative nucleus, 
however, has not been seen in this region. The cytoplasm is 
. densely and finely granular, entirely filling the tube, while in the 
older parts of. the same only a thin granular layer may be dis- 
cerned on the wall, or none at all. 
