28 Transactions of the Boyal Society of South Africa. 
in each loculus. In all cases the ovary is inferior or half inferior, and the 
ovules are pendulous and anatropous vv^ith a dorsal raphe. The foregoing 
description, while based on a study of the plants, is merely a repetition of 
that given by Bentham and Hooker {loc. cit), and is inserted as an 
introduction to the study of the ovule. 
Description. 
In each of the four genera mentioned the young ovule (at about the 
time of megasporogenesis) consists of a small nucellus with rather large 
cells and a single massive integument with somewhat smaller cells and a 
very long and slender micropyle. The contents of the nucellus cells are 
scanty, but those of the cells of the integument fairly dense (Fig. 2). It 
may be mentioned that in earlier stages, when the rudimentary integument 
first appears, there is never any indication of two integuments which 
subsequently fuse. If, therefore, the single integument really represents 
two integuments fused, it is necessary to assume that congenital fusion 
has occurred. In the writer's opinion such an assumption would require 
strong evidence to support it, which, in the present instance, is not the 
case. The order is (as pointed out above) so isolated, and its relationship 
so obscure that even a comparison with the ovule in other orders of the 
Bosales in this respect would scarcely be profitable. 
The megaspore mother cell becomes much longer than its neighbours, 
and is separated from the apex of the nucellus by about two cells. 
The heterotypic division has been seen, but owing to the very small 
size of the nuclei it was difficult to be certain of the number of chromo- 
somes. Figs, la and lb show respectively the general appearance of the 
mother cell, and the chromosomes of the heterotypic division, of which 
there appear to be 16 {i.e., 8 to each daughter nucleus). In sporophytic 
divisions it has been quite impossible to attempt a count of chromosomes. 
The divisions of the mother cell result in the usual row of four 
megaspores, of which the lowest becomes the embryo sac (Fig. 2). 
Attention was paid to this point as it is not uncommon in the Bosales 
(at least, in LeguminoscR and Bosacece) for one of the other megaspores 
to be functional. A case of this kind was recorded by the writer in 
Cassia (2)*. Such cases are, however, very exceptional, and while the 
presence of so pronounced a peculiarity would have undoubtedly indicated 
a close relationship to other Bosales, its absence cannot be regarded as 
evidence to the contrary. 
The young embryo sac very rapidly grows upwards, absorbing the cells 
above it, and before the second nuclear division in the sac it has reached 
the apex of the nucellus (Fig. 3). 
* References to other cases will be found in the paper cited. 
