116 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [aucusT 
Historical 
Taxus baccata has long been a favorite form for study, the ovule 
and the seed first attracting attention, and the early work, therefore, 
relating almost exclusively to these features. The first study of any ~ 
importance relating to the gametophytes was that of HorMEIsTER 
(x1), who reported some of the more obvious features of both the 
male and female gametophytes. The history of the male gameto- 
phyte has become further known through the work of BELAJEFF (3), 
STRASBURGER (4), and JAGER (6). Miss Ropertson (18) made 
some observations, but, in her own words, her “‘results on the whole 
simply confirmed previous work.’’ CoxKER (g) studied the micro- 
spores in T. baccata and several of its varieties. STRASBURGER’S 
early work had to do more especially with the ovulate shoot and 
the ovule, but in 1879 (2) he described the origin of the megaspore 
mother cells from the hypodermal layer of the nucellus and gave a 
few observations on the development of the female gametophyte. 
The best accounts of the female gametophyte are by JAGER (6), 
_ who gave a rather complete description from the megaspore to 
the mature endosperm, and by StTrasBuRGER (12), who gave 
attention particularly to the early stages, especially to the forma- 
tion of the megaspores and the free nuclear situation. COKER (9) 
_ also studied the megaspores. : 
In T. canadensis itself very little work: has been reported. : 
HoFMEISTER (r) has a note concerning the proembryo; CHAMBER- 
LAIN (5) studied the condition of the microsporangium at the 
ae of October; CoKER (9) reports “more than one embryo 
8 . . . not uncommon in Taxus ¢ lensis”’; and THOMSON : 
Ge) tas ted he conto of the megaspore menbrane ae 
| _ Male gametophyte — 
ae 3 CHAMBERLAIN (5) in material of T. ¢ nade is a 
a en collected i in n the Chicago — October + eh found the i 
ig math. : 
: eS Leos as s the winter condition. : . Matec 
