52 Gibbs . — Notes on the Development and Structure of 
free cell division takes place. The complete organization of the embryo at 
maturity restricts the necessity for jacketing. It might perhaps be sug- 
gested that this restriction which obtains in the Alsinoideae is correlated 
with the more complete development of the suspensor as a primary 
digestive agent, and that this, by enabling the embryo to immediately 
draw on the organized food supplies of the parent, ensures the organization 
of the embryo being completed within the seed. The endosperm comes into 
play to supply what is beyond the capabilities of the suspensor as the embryo 
increases in size, and its function thus both begins before germination and 
continues afterwards on the same lines. As we get higher in the scale its 
activity after germination is more and more reduced until finally it is no 
longer present on maturity. The storage of the starch reserves in the 
embryo itself is another advance in specialization and economy. A small 
beginning is indicated by the starch which appears in the epidermal layer 
of the embryo in the Alsinoideae after germination, when the rupture of the 
endosperm necessitates the presence of some reserve to ensure continuance 
of growth till the cotyledons are drawn from the seed-coat and can assimilate 
on their own account. 
In conclusion, I must thank the Curator of the Chelsea Physic Garden 
for supplying and growing material required for the purposes of this 
investigation ; Mr. Malcolm Wilson, B.Sc., for very kindly collecting various 
species ; and especially Professor Farmer for his unfailing kindness, help, and 
advice in the course of this work. 
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