IMPREGNATION — ^OVULE — SEED. 
61 
examining the ovary in its earliest state, it presents a uniform 
mass, with two small interruptions of the cellular tissue ; the 
cells, however, soon unite again, in order to form a clear 
cellular tissue in the centre, surrounded by a green circle. 
No ovule is perceived in the ovary for a long time, not as far 
as the commencement of June, when the ovary has the thick- 
ness of a pepper corn. At a little later period, however, an 
ovule may be discovered ; the easiest method of effecting 
which is, to separate the central substance into two parts, 
which is best done by gently drawing it to and fro. The 
ovule forms a club-shaped excrescence, the cellular tissue of 
which is arranged in concentric fayers ; each cell contains two 
phakocysts. On subsequently bringing the ovule, when it has 
assumed the shape of a small, rather compressed substance, 
in contact with a drop of water, the water will penetrate it, 
and drive out the phakocyst with some force. The applica- 
tion of a drop of tincture of iodine colours the interior yellow, 
but leaves the granules uncoloured, which only subsequently 
become coloured when iodine is applied. Two thin club- 
shaped bodies are found next to the ovules at this epoch, and 
some weeks earlier, three fibrous bodies, rather thickened at 
the end. The author considers these bodies as abortive 
ovules. The ovule, which is thin at the lower end, might 
be compared with an embryo sac, if the position of the 
surrounding vascular system, and the comparison with the 
other parts of the fruit, did not contradict it. The young 
embryo exhibits itself, as a small mass of cells, at the point 
of the ovule, and nearly in contact with what one might 
call the epidermis. The author never observed a trace of a 
pollen sac in the interior of the ovary, nor did he ever 
discover the slightest indication of a special integument for 
the ovule; so that the latter exhibits nothing more than a 
nucleus, as has been observed in the Santalacece, and even 
in the Olacinece. This nucleus is attached, by its base, to 
the bottom of the ovary, and has its point exactly in the 
opposite direction, so that the ovule must be regarded as 
orthotropous. When the ovule has attained such a size that 
the embryo becomes visible, together with the fibre on which 
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