The Ohio Naturalist. 
[Vol. VIII, No. 1 , 
198 
EARLY STAGES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FLOWER BUD. 
The buds of the same head taken July 21, 1906, showed quite 
a diversity of stages in development, but the youngest one was 
practically the very beginning of the flower. The incipient bud 
arises as a small cylindrical body, from the periphery of the 
crown of which appear the incepts of the four sepals. These are 
somewhat transversely flattened cones, the apices of which turn 
inward (Fig. 1). 
In the flower representing the next stage in development, 
found upon this same receptacle, the incepts of the four petals 
were seen. These are mere papillae at this time (Fig. 2)-. They 
arise at the base of the sepals, on their median side and alternate 
with them. 
A third stage of development was also found upon the same 
head. In this the four incipient stamens (Fig. 3) take up the 
same position with respect to the petals that the latter did with 
reference to the sepals. The petals have become much thickened, 
while their truncated apices are approaching each other. 
The gynoecium has its beginning the latter part of July, as 
shown in figure 4 of material collected on the 28th. A ridge¬ 
like ring develops at the base of the statnens. This grows 
upwards forming the style with a definite stylar canal. In addi¬ 
tion to this it may be noted that the apices of the petals have 
met. These tightly joined petals thus serve as a protection 
during the winter season. 
All of the flowers on a single receptacle collected August 5th 
showed no further progress in development. Some were even 
youngei than those of the last period. 
Flowers of August 11th showed a general development. This 
was especially manifested in the elongation of the four sets of 
organs. In addition to this the stamens were becoming differ¬ 
entiated into anther and filament. From the sides of the lower 
portion of the stylar canal, arise the two incipient ovules (Fig. 5). 
Sections of flowers collected August 18th show (Fig. 6) that 
the basal portion of the original, cylindrical bud has become 
differentiated as the ovulary. The incipient ovule has bent 
upon itself and is now growing upwards forming the anatropus 
type. 
DEVELOPMENT OF THE MALE GAMETOPHYTE. 
As has already been stated, the stamens begin to be differ¬ 
entiated into a filament and anther as early as August 11th. 
Internal development has been alike active and the hvpodermal 
arehesporial cells of the incipient anther are enlarging. From 
this time until the next date, August 18th, progress is even more 
rapid. The arehesporial cells have not only divided into the 
primary parietal and primary sporogenous layers, but these have 
