202 THE AMERICAN NATURALIST. (VoL. XXXIII. 
The Nucellus arises as a papilla, at the apex of which develop, in 
the hypoderm, about eight or ten macrospores which elongate, and 
many of which commonly germinate, reaching a quadri-nucleate con- 
dition. One (sometimes two) becomes the perfected embryo-sac, 
which in all forms studied has antipodals, a hitherto unrecognized 
fact (excepting in Houstohia). One of the antipodals is very large, 
comprising the whole lower half of the embryo-sac (Sherardia, Rubia, 
Galium). The condition in Asperula is not completely cleared up, 
but the material studied indicates that a larger number of antipodals 
are present, approaching in this respect certain Composite. 
The pro-embryo has a suspensor which is divided into two regions, 
the micropylar and the embryonal. The latter is composed of disk- 
shaped cells; the former of large cells which are swollen out later- 
ally, forming absorbing organs which become applied to the endosperm. 
A free preparation of these structures resembles a bunch of grapes, 
a condition similar to that described for Sutherlandia by Hofmeister 
and Guignard. 
The integument becomes absorbed by the endosperm till only the 
outer layer of cells is left. The seed covering then consists of the 
pericarp and a single layer of cells derived from the integument. 
CHARLES H. SHaw: Zhe Inflorescences and Flowers of Polygala 
polygama. — In this plant the author has discovered a third set of 
inflorescences, namely, green cleistogamic flowers, produced in late sum- 
mer on geotropic aerial shoots. 
In the conspicuous pink-purple blossoms the style terminates in a 
dense hairy tuft, bearing the stigma as a lateral knob. The embryo 
sac is generally imperfect and the seed abortive. 
In the underground cleistogamic flowers the wing-like sepals are 
reduced to the size of the other three, the two lateral petals are want- 
ing, the stamens have decreased to six, five, four, three, or two, and 
the style and hairy tuft are reduced to the vanishing point, leaving 
the stigma closely sessile. On the other hand, they are more highly 
developed in at least two points, namely, the walls of the microspores 
are exceedingly thick, and the ovary is densely covered with glandular 
hairs. 
The newly discovered aerial cleistogamic flowers furnish transition 
stages between these two sharply marked types. The style is better 
developed, and there are rudiments of the lateral petals. In the 
thickness of the microspore walls and in the structure of the pistil 
especially interesting connecting stages are found. 
