194 
LE GOC : CYCAS RTJMPHII. 
2. The dispersai of this species of Cycas in Ceylon takes 
place by means of offshoots, and no true seeds can be obtained. 
3. In the districts where no male plant of any Cycad can 
be found, the ovules of C. Bumphii thrive only for a short 
time, shrivel, decay, and fall off. 
4. But in localities where male cones even of different 
genera occur, the ovules of C. RumpJiii attain the size of a 
fully mature seed ; but they contain no embryo, and 
consequently do not germinate. 
5. On investigation it is found that foreign pollen grains 
^ belonging to Encephalartos or Macrozamia not only have 
pollinated G. Bumphii, but have produced male gametophytes. 
6. The full gro^vth of the ovules of C. Bumphii must be 
attributed to the stimulus exercised by these foreign male 
gametophytes. No true feTtilization, how^ever, has been 
observed, or is likely to have taken place. 
7. Some minor points, such as the effect of spores of fungi 
received inside the pollen chamber, have also been discussed. 
It is the writer’s pleasant duty and wish to thank Mr. Fetch 
and all the authorities at Peradeniya for having kindly granted 
him every help and facility for carrying out these investigations. 
Literature cited. 
(1) Coulter, J. M., and Chamberlain, C. J. — Morphology of 
Gymnosperms. Chicago, 1910, 
(2) Le Goo, M. J. — A Link with the Past. The Ceylon Anti- 
quary and Literary Register, Colombo, 1916, pp. 91-93. 
(3) Oliver, F. W. — ^Foreign Pollen in Fossil Seeds. The New 
Phyto legist, Vol. XIV. (1915), p. 220. 
(4) Sahni, B. — Foreign Pollen in the Ovules of Ginkgo and of 
Fossil Plants. The New Phytologist, Vol. XIV. (1915), p. 149. 
Explanation of Plate XIII. 
Fig. 1. — Megasporophyll of Cycas Bumphii considerably 
reduced in size ; ov. a healthy ovule, mp. micropyle. 
Fig. 2. — Pollen grain of Macrozamia ; v. vegetative cell, g. 
generative cell, t.c. tube cell. 
Fig. 3. — Fully grown ovule of C. Bumphii ; o.l. outer fleshy 
layer, st.l. stony layer, i.l. inner fleshy layer, nuc. nucellus, p.c. 
pollen chamber, a archegonium, end. endosperm. 
Fig. 4. — A pollen chamber ; muc. mucilage, p.g, pollen grain, 
m.g. male gametophyte. 
Fig. 5. — A male gametophyte ; v.c. vegetative cell, st.c. stalk 
cell, hi. blepharoplast, m.c. mother cell, p.t. pollen tube. 
