164 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [AUGUST 
incapable of fertilization. Although the development of ovules and embryo 
sacs is promoted by the presence of pollen tubes, they are completed in unpol- 
linated flowers unless nutritive conditions are too severe. In such flowers 
the egg apparatus may remain in healthy condition 8 or 9 days. In some 
cases it then degenerates; in other cases the ovule forms an embryoless seed, 
the number of these seeds in the fruit depending upon nutrition. Such embryo- 
less seeds may develop from ovules with either the haploid or the diploid egg. 
If the floral axis is separated from the tuber, scarcity of food material 
causes an imperfect development of ovarial and ovular tissue in pollinated 
flowers, but it does not interfere with the number of ovules going into seed 
formation nor with the development of the embryo. If pollinated flowers are 
cut from the floral axis and kept moist, fertilization occurs but the ovary does 
not grow. Some of the ovules develop into seeds with imperfect coats, while 
t 
effects of reduced nutrition are here manifest. Of all the parts the embryo is 
the least liable to be retarded in development by poor nutritive conditions. It 
is evident that the embryo can develop without the accompanying development 
of the ovule or ovary tissue, and that the seed coat may likewise form without 
the development of the embryo or ovary wall. The growth of the latter, 
however, seems to be dependent upon the development of the ovules 
Self-pollination appears to be as effective as cross-pollination in Gastrodia. 
The pollinium will germinate within the cavity of the ovary and effect fertiliza- 
tion. Pollination with foreign (Bletia) pollen resulted in fruits and seeds of 
normal form and size, but the seeds were without embryos; no fertilization 
occurred. If both Gastrodia and Bletia pollen are placed on the same stigma 
the fertilizing activity of the Gastrodia pollen is greatly hindered. 
With regard to parthenocarpy, the author recalls the distinction between 
vegetative (WINKLER) or autonomic (FITTING) parthenocarpy, in which 
embryoless fruits are formed without the agency of any external factor, and 
stimulative (WINKLER) or aitionomic (FirtmnG) parthenocarpy, in which the 
formation of embryoless fruit is induced by pollen or some other agent. Both 
types occur in Gastrodia; the aitionomic fruits are of normal size, while the 
autonomic ones are much smaller. The former appear to be well developed 
because the pollen or other agent stimulates nutritive activity; it seems that 
the size of the fruit may depend upon the intensity of the stimulus and also 
upon its duration. Parthenocarpic development of the ovary is dependent 
upon ovular oo the amount of seed apparently governing the size of 
the capsule. 
Polyembryony occurs frequently in Gastrodia, and is correlated with 
delayed pollination. One embryo arises from the fertilized egg, and the other 
probably from a fertilized synergid. 
Although diploid eggs occur frequently in Gastrodia their apogamous 
development was not observed in any case. It is interesting to note, however, 
that KusANo saw several cases in which the nucleus of a haploid egg under- 
