LY CODE ACE X 



PSILOTUM. 

 PI. CXVIII. A. 



1. In the first I have examined, the future capsule is a small 

 round body, concealed by the bilobed suft'ulting leaf, 

 a hyaline edge being traceable round ; at this period 

 it appears to be like a membranous bag containing 

 grume and rudimentary cells. 



2. In the second, it is still more short than the leaf to 

 which it belongs, which has considerably increased in 

 size. It now has an obscure cellular aspect, but con- 

 tains nothing separable, but grumous mucilaginous tis- 

 sue passes out on pressure. 



3. The base of the young capsule is now apparently nar- 

 rowed : its upper part broadened and presenting three 

 furrows, corresponding to the septa. In the grumous 

 mucilage now separating under pressure are rudimen- 

 tary cells of some diameter, each with its nucleus. 



4. Capsule now distinctly 3 locular, its proper walls are 

 cellular ; each cell is at this time filled with a grumous 

 mucilaginous mass, for the most part composed of large 

 cells, containing many, though indefinite nuclei : towards 

 the circumference, the nuclei or something like them, ap- 

 pear to occur without any common or proper cell. 



Nitric acid in many instances causes the appearance 

 of separte, somewhat angular granules, each with a nu- 

 cleus. It also renders the nuclei in the compound cells 

 more clear, and as if contracted. 



At this period large cells will be found attached to the 

 parietes of the cells of the fruit, the walls of which, as 

 well as the septa are of a lax-looking formative cha- 

 racter, and greenish tint. 



