260 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [SEPTEMBER 
Miss FERGUSON (7), in her first paper on Pinus Strobus in 1901, 
finds that the 2 chromatic groups are distinctly recognizable at the 
time of the segmentation of the spiremes, and can still be clearly 
made out during the early development of the chromosomes, but 
not as late as the equatorial plate stage. ‘There is never any 
fusion, as ordinarily understood, of the male and female nuclei.” 
In her second paper on Pinus Miss FERGusoN (8) describes the 
longitudinal splitting of the 24 chromosomes on the equatorial 
plate. According to NorEN (18, 19), the essential features of fer- 
tilization in Juniperus communis are similar to those of Pinus. 
A very detailed account of fertilization is given by HUTCHINSON 
(12) for Abies balsamea. Two groups of chromatin at the micro- 
pylar end of the egg nucleus, one male and the other female, become 
separated into 16 chromosomes each, and these pass on to the 
spindle fibers. The 2 spindles in the metaphase fuse, and the 
chromosomes are arranged to form 16 pairs, each pair forming a C, 
in which the 2 chromosomes are twisted about each other. By 
means of a transverse break at the angle of the bent chromosomes 
each pair forms 4 segments. Of the 64 segments, 32 go to each pole, 
where in the daughter nuclei they remain very distinct. 
CHAMBERLAIN counted 12 chromosomes in Stangeria (4) at 
the equatorial plate stage of the division of the fertilized egg, while 
the sporophyte number is 24. He accounts for the haploid number 
y assuming the chromosomes to be of a double character, and 
supports HuTCHINSON’s view of the pairing of chromosomes. 
In angiosperms the behavior of the chromatin during fertiliza- 
tion has received little attention. In the majority of cases the 
statement is made that the nuclei fuse while in the resting condition 
almost immediately after they come in contact and form a definite 
resting nucleus, differing only in its greater size from the unfertilized 
egg nucleus. 
GUIGNARD’S (g) paper in 1891 on fertilization in Lilium M arlagon 
contains statements overlooked by most writers. The formation 
of 2 distinct spiremes in the male and egg nuclei was observed but 
not figured. No fusion is brought about between the chromatin 
of the 2 nuclei, even when the nuclear membranes disappear. 
The segments of each spireme pass on to the equatorial plate, where 
