369 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [OCTOBER 
At the time of the first division of the megaspore developing the 
gametophyte, the abortive cells are dark staining, often wholly dis- 
integrated masses of material. The binucleate stage shows nothing 
unusual, with its tendency toward polarity with the appearance of 
a central vacuole (figs. 8, 9). This stage is followed by the usual 
4-nucleate situation arising from the division of each of the nuclei 
(fig. 10). The 4-nucleate phase must give rise very soon after for- 
mation to the 8-nucleate, since it represents a difficult stage to find. 
The early 8-nucleate stages (fig. 11) show 4 free nuclei at each 
pole, with a large central vacuole. This is followed by great 
enlargement and the organization into an embryo sac of the typical 
form of angiosperms, the egg apparatus at the micropylar end con- 
sisting of 2 large synergids in contact with the egg, 3 smaller free 
antipodal nuclei in the narrower, more pointed chalazal end of the 
sac, and 2 polar nuclei, usually coming in contact with each other 
near the micropylar rather than the chalazal end (12). Stages both 
before and after the fusion of these polar nuclei have been found. 
The peculiar lobed effect reported by Ernst and BERNARD in 
Burmannia candida and interpreted there as incomplete fusion is 
sometimes evident here. That there is any special significance here 
seems doubtful. 
At this time the cells surrounding the embryo sac stain more 
deeply and stand out more sharply than in younger stages. So 
far fertilization stages have not been observed. Contrary to. 
Ernst’s report of development in Burmannia coelestis, it seems 
altogether likely that fertilization does occur, since pollen tubes are 
developed. 
The development of the seed has not been followed in detail. 
At one time the larger portion of the sac is filled with the free 
nuclei resulting from the division of the endosperm nucleus. Soon 
walls come in, forming large cells. At about this time the egg cell 
undergoes division, so that a 2-celled proembryo is present imbedded 
in the conspicuous endosperm tissue. Further division occurs in 
the proembryo cells, and in the oldest material obtained (presum- 
ably mature seeds, although not so proved by germination) the 
embryo consists of many cells in a globular mass with a short 
suspensor region (fig. 13). The situation is much like that in 
