408 ON THE FEMALE FLOWER AND FRUIT OF 



or mucous tubes only in Cytinus, in which they pass along 

 the surfaces of a definite number of cylindrical cords exist- 

 ing in the style until they reach the cavity of the ovarium, 

 when they follow the direction of the placentae and become 

 mixed with the ovula, to which I have not yet, however, 

 found them actually attached.^ 



The structure of the pericarpium and the ripe seed of 

 Bcifflesia have been satisfactorily ascertained from the 

 examination of a single fruit found among the numerous 

 flower-buds in various states which were received from 

 Sumatra by Sir Stamford Raffles long after his return to 

 England. In tliis fruit, which is very accurately represented 

 of the natural size in Mr. Bauer's figure, the column, 

 deprived entirely of its style-like processes, had become a 

 compact fleshy mass, having deep fissures on its surface 

 dividing it into nearly square lobes, somewhat resembling 

 the surface of the dilated base of Testudinaria, and within, 

 like the ovarium, exhibiting irregular cavities, whose sur- 

 faces were thickly covered with minute seeds. 



These seeds, which are also beautifully shown in Mr. 

 Bauer's figures, differ but little in form from the ovula of 

 the expanded but unimpregnated flower ; they are con- 

 siderably larger, however, and the apex of the funiculus is 

 still more dilated. From their great hardness, as well as 

 from their internal structure, they appear to be quite ripe ; 

 and it is worthy of remark, that of the many thousands 

 contained in the fruit, the very considerable portion seen 

 were of uniform size and appearance. 



The testa or outer integument, which is evidently that 

 existing in the unimpregnated ovarium, is of such hardness 

 and thickness that it may be termed a nut ; it is of a chest- 

 nut colour, its surface regularly reticulate and deeply 

 pitted, a depression occupying the centre of each areola. 



The inner integument is a thin light-coloured membrane, 

 238] very slightly areolated, and of uniform surface. Within 



1 lu a few oases where the supposed pollen-tubes were present I found them 

 applied to the apices of the enlarged ovula. In some instances I have met 

 with only a very loose tissue, consisting of elongated cells mixed with mucus, 

 forming cords descending from the stigmata, and reaching to, but not extending 

 beyond, the origin of the placentie. 



