358 Phillips . — On the Development of 
is in close contact. I have seen again in this species evidence 
of the existence of an ooblastema-tube connecting these cells, 
and I have no doubt that conjugation takes place (Pl. XVIII, 
Figs. 14, 15). The auxiliary cell then buds out into the favella. 
Miss Smith (’ 9 f ) has recently described the cystocarp in Grip 
fithsia Bornetiana , Farl., and shows that the single procarp 
which is there produced corresponds, cell by cell, with one of 
the procarps of Griffithsia corallina ; and further, that no cell 
within the involucre, other than the auxiliary, shares, as had 
been previously supposed, in the production of the spores. 
She finds however no evidence of a conjugation between the 
auxiliary cell and the carpogonium, and hints that fertiliza- 
tion may take place by way of the cells of the carpogonial 
branch and the basal cell, regarding the fusion which 
takes place among the cells of the carpogonial branch as 
favouring this view. I have observed a similar fusion in 
Griffithsia corallina , where however I am satisfied that direct 
conjugation takes place. In this plant too, there subsequently 
takes place a very general fusion, including the second axial 
cell and the whole of its products, even extending upwards to 
the third axial cell. When this occurs, the mass however 
retains for some time the outline which belonged to it before 
fusion, and the genesis of the carpospores may still be seen 
to be confined to the situation of the two auxiliary cells. 
This fusion is no doubt to be associated with the increased 
demands for nutrition consequent upon rapid spore-formation. 
It is in accordance with modern ideas to suppose that all 
these spores derive their nuclei from the nucleus of the 
auxiliary cell, and it is observable that though fusion takes 
place, the spores are not formed equally from all parts of 
the fused mass. As I have said, it may be clearly seen 
in Griffithsia corallina that spore-formation is confined to 
the situation of the auxiliary cells. The auxiliary cells do 
not lose their identity, the other cells are probably utilized 
for their nutrition. Analogous processes occur in the ovule 
of Angiosperms, when the embryo-sac grows at the expense 
of neighbouring cells of the nucellus ; and in the embryo -sac 
