64 Mr. Griffith on the Ovulum of Santalum album. 



nucleus at some period previous to fecundation, and which, at least in its 

 earlier stages of development, is the only coat that is membranous. If this 

 view be correct, the anomalies will be reduced to the formation of the albu- 

 men, or rather, tissue of the amnios and embryo externally to the nucleus, and 

 to the application of the male influence to the apex of the sac of the amnios 

 instead of to that of the nucleus. 



This seems to me to be the best explanation of this anomalous development, 

 although there is no appreciable reason why such an extraordinary modification 

 should be adopted. The mode of development has some analogy to that of 

 Loranthus and F'iscum, with which it agrees in especial in the albumen being 

 destitute of a proper integument. I may, perhaps, be borne out in giving it 

 as my opinion that Santalum forms the connecting link between the simplest 

 form of ovulum, as exemplified by Loranthus and Viscum, and the ordinary 

 and more complicated form of these organs. Another mode of explanation is 

 obvious, by adopting which the male influence would be supposed to operate 

 on the usual spot, viz. the apex of the nucleus ; but as the anatomy of these 

 parts does not confirm the supposition, and as the number of anomalies are 

 not reducible to such an extent by this as by the explanation adopted above, 

 I prefer the opinion that the ovula are reduced to nuclei, and that the " seed" 

 of botanists is developed externally to this, and consists of, or is reduced to a 

 naked albumen and an ordinary embryo. 



I shall not enlarge on the changes that take place after the supposed action 

 of the male influence until at a subsequent period I have demonstrated the 

 continuity of the filaments with the grains of pollen adhering to the stig- 

 mata. The fitness of the present subject for attempting to ascertain rigorously 

 what the first changes incident on this action actually are, is at once very 

 obvious, and close examination will probably put us in possession of very im- 

 portant results. 



EXPLANATION OF THE PLATES. 



I beg to remark, that with regard to the measurements, they are all taken 

 from the base of the proper pedicle of the bud, or ovarium, or fruit to the 



