14 TRANSACTIONS LIVERPOOL BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



At the time of pollination the micropyle is a very 

 short tubular opening immediately surrounding the apes 

 of the nueellus; upon this opening there are two 

 projecting walls, these stand with their faces perpen- 

 dicular to the plane of the scale, one towards the outer 

 side of the scale, the other opposite. The outer wall hears 

 upon its inner face, and at its base, a small dome-shaped 

 projection, the other has a plane surface. This short 

 micropyle increases in length considerably as growth 

 proceeds. Immediately the pollen reaches the nueellus the 

 projecting walls of the micropyle close in, the outer, 

 moving slightly in advance of the other brings its dome- 

 shaped projection down upon the enclosed pollen grains 

 and forces them into close contact with the nucellar 

 surface ; the opposite wall now closes, and lapping itself 

 over the other secures it firmly (fig. 1). Shortly after- 

 wards the hypodermal cells of the inner walls of the tube 

 of the micropyle elongate transversely, continuing growth 

 until they meet and close the passage ; this elongation 

 does not, however, occur in every ovule (fig. 2). 



The protection of the nueellus and its precious 

 contents is, however, not yet complete. The ovuliferous 

 scales which opened to admit the pollen now close at their 

 upper edges, and certain epidermal cells of the inner faces 

 of the same scales function as glands (fig. 2), these pour 

 into the cavity — closed at its upper edge — a copious 

 supply of gummy resin which flowing over the micropyle 

 effectually seals it ; this exudation frequently fills the 

 cavities to overflowing, appearing at the surface of the 

 cone as a greyish granular deposit. 



With the closing of the scales the stalk of the cone 

 begins to slowly bend outward, until at the end of some 

 10 or 14 days the cone becomes inverted, and at an angle 

 of about 45° with the axis of the branch. During the last 



