54 ° Jeffrey* — On Polyembryony in 
Fig. 3 shows an embryogenic mass in a later stage of 
development. In Fig. 4 the embryogenic mass appears still 
further increased in size ; whilst in Fig. 5 the mass is seen not 
only increased in size, but beginning to send forth outgrowths 
from the free end, the future embryos. The single layer of 
nucellar cells over the apex of the embryo-sac still persists, 
but their dense protoplasm is for the first time vacuolated. 
At no time do the cells of this layer show any signs of 
division. In Fig. 6 four embryos are seen at the free end 
of the embryogenic mass. The preparation here represented 
shows an unusually large number of embryos. Generally 
there are but two or three of them to be made out. The 
single investing layer of nucellar tissue has disappeared by 
absorption. As is the case in Mimosa Denhartii , only one 
embryo persists in the ripened seed 1 . This is buried in the 
endosperm resting on the broad base furnished by the 
persistent embryogenic mass, or, as it may be better termed 
at this stage, the suspensor. The large size of the latter in the 
case of Erythronium suggests the possibility that the equally 
enlarged suspensor of the Viceae 2 may be a relic of poly- 
embryony. No investigation, however, has been made as yet 
in this direction. 
The fact that the single layer of densely protoplasmic 
nucellar tissue over the apex of the embryo-sac in Erythro- 
nium does not give rise to the multiple embryos, suggested 
a reinvestigation of Funkia in the expectation that the employ- 
ment of the improved technique now in vogue might give 
similar results in that form. Detailed examination of Funkia 
showed, however, that Strasburger’s description of the origin 
of the embryo was in all respects exact. 
Guignard himself suggests the possibility of doubt as to 
the multiplicity of embryos in Mimosa Denhartii being due 
to the fertilization of the synergids, and offers the alternative 
that they may have come from the segmentation of the egg- 
cell. The latter supposition seems to gain force from the 
difficulty of conceiving that the three cells which give rise to 
1 Guignard, op. cit. 2 Vide Guignard, op. cit. 
