782 THE AMERICAN NATURALIST. . [Vor. XXXVI. 
VARIATION IN THE ANTIPODAL CELLS. 
The three antipodal cells commonly found at the chalazal 
end of the embryo sac are frequently looked upon as merely 
vestigial structures, as in many cases they doubtless are. 
That they may be of importance physiologically has been 
en. 

p f ferti 



Fic. 4. — A, the chalazal t 
lization : e. z., endosperm terra aM., two ot the three sped cells. B, section of a 
young seed of the same species: em., embryo; end., endosperm; ant., the large mass of 
antipodal cells. d — € cells in young endosperm: from a somewhat —— stage, 
more highly magn sichiton 
kamtchatcense, showi , end., and th } 3 ipodal a SRDA 

repeatedly diosa and there is no question that this is oftener 
the — than was formerly supposed. In many forms — e.5» 
Naias, Lilaa — the antipodal cells are large, with abundant 
cytoplasm, and every indication of being active cells. In other 
cases, such as some Ranunculaceze,! they become very large, 
- 1Mottier. Contributions to ae Embryology of the Ranunculacez, Botanical 
Gazette, vol. xx, 1895. 

