1914] ELKINS—MATURATION IN SMILAX 35 
any substance to the chromosomes it is not done by means of 
“suspending fibers.” 
Fig. 3 seems to show a condition like that destribed by DaRLInG 
and WaAceER. There is a great similarity between the papillae 
attached to the nucleolus and the chromatin bodies lying free in 
the linin network. On the other hand, the presence of numerous 
darkly staining granules in the sporogenous and somatic nuclei 
and the presence of a nucleolus as late as diakinesis argue against 
the resolution of the nucleolus into chromatin bodies. 
SyNAPSIS.—The term “‘synapsis’’ has been defined in two ways. 
Most botanists use the word to denote the period of maximum 
contraction of the chromatic elements in the prophase of the hetero- 
typic division. Zoologists call this stage “synizesis’”” (McCLUNG 
25, JORDAN 20) and assign the name ‘“‘synapsis’’ to the period 
of approximation of parental chromosomes. GREGOIRE (17) de- 
fines synapsis as covering stages from leptonema to strepsinema. 
In this paper ‘“‘synapsis” will be considered as synonymous with 
“‘synizesis.”’ 
The presynaptic phases in Smilax herbacea are apparently 
simple; the linin mesh contracts (fig. 6), drawing the chromatin 
bodies together into an increasingly close proximity. As there is 
no chromatic reticulum or pairing of thin filaments, the process 
resolves into the mutual approach of chromatic bodies. MIvyAKE’s 
(28) description of chromatin behavior in Lilium corresponds closely 
to this account. During synapsis (fig. 7) the nucleolus is almost 
invariably at one side and projecting from the synaptic mass; 
delicate linin threads bridge the karyolymph and connect the 
chromatic ball with the nuclear membrane. For a time the granu- 
lar nature of the chromatin is maintained; toward the end of synap- 
sis, however, the chromatin becomes arranged in a much interwoven 
beaded filament (fig. 8). 
Views in regard to synapsis and its importance range from those 
that discard it as of no significance or due to faulty technique 
(SCHAFFNER 37) to those that assign to it the function of bringing 
together parental elements in closest union and mutual influence. 
Lawson (22) denies the presence of any real contraction and states 
that the phase known as synapsis is due to an enlargement of the 
