ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 
99 
wanders alone to the oospliere. It is never found in connection with 
the spiral ciliiferous band. After fecundation the male nucleus appears 
as a small nearly spherical body in the upper portion of the oosphere. 
No organ corresponding to the centrosomes of the lower Cryptogams has 
been detected. 
The “ attractive spheres ” in the male generative cell of Salisburia 
( GingJco ) undoubtedly correspond to the “ centrosome-like ” bodies already 
described in Zamia, and to the “ subsidiary nuclei ” found in the Equi- 
setaceae and Filicinese by Belajeff,* and in the Characeae. But they are 
not true centrosomes, and the author proposes for them the term blephciro- 
plast. This must be regarded as a distinct organ of the protoplasm of 
spermatic (male) cells, having for its primary function the formation of 
the motile cilia of the antherozoids. From it is formed the spiral band 
on which the cilia are developed. 
Pollen-Grains and Antipodal Cells.f — Prof. J. M. Coulter objects to 
the view that the pollen-tube is the homologue of the male prothallium. 
The not unfrequent occurrence of a small lenticular cell cut off before 
the usual divisions of the microspore nucleus, and the occasional direct 
division of the vegetative nucleus, support the older view that this len- 
ticular cell represents the prothallial cell which constantly appears in 
the heterosporous Pteridophytes, and that the pollen-grain without this 
cell represents the single antherid. Four types of antipodal develop- 
ment may be distinguished in Dicotyledons : — (1) A group of evanescent 
cells, usually three in number (Amentiferae) ; (2) Three large antipodal 
cells, increasing in size with the embryo-sac, and usually becoming mul- 
tinucleate ; (3) A small number (usually three) of comparatively permanent 
cells, not notable for size or activity ; (4) An indefinite number of cells 
forming a permanent tissue, which often breaks through the bottom of 
the sac (Composite). 
Endosperm and Suspensor of Lupinus.J — Dr. E. Buscalioni con- 
firms the observations of Hofmeister regarding the dissociation of the 
cells composing the suspensor of Lupinus. He states that (in L. albus , 
pilosus, and hirsutus) the embryo becomes detached from the suspensor, 
and moves to the dilated part of the embryo-sac. At a later period the 
cells of the suspensor become dissociated, increase in size, and branch. 
The protoplasm of the isolated cells, at first resembling that of the endo- 
sperm, soon becomes coarsely granular, with one or two large vacuoles, 
the nucleus at the same time increasing in size, and showing itself to be 
composed of a dense network of coarse filaments. The neighbouring 
portion of the endosperm itself becomes massed into bodies resembling 
the isolated cells of the suspensor, and corresponding to the “ pseudo- 
cells” of the endosperm of Vicia Faba. The cells derived from the 
endosperm are, however, distinguished from those derived from the sus- 
pensor by being destitute of a membrane. In the nuclear division of the 
endosperm of Lupinus it is not uncommon to find tripolar karyokinesis, 
and irregularly placed chromatic and achromatic spindles. 
Cross-Pollination and Self-Pollination. — Mr. T. Meehan § records 
the remarkable fertility of Eeliophytum ( Heliotropium ) indicum ; the off- 
* Cf. infra , p. 104. t Bot. Gazette, xxiv. (1897) pp. 181-2. 
J Atti r. Accad. Lincei, vi. (1897) pp. 269-76. 
§ Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 1897, pp. 169-72. 
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