Seed in the Scitamineae . 
21 
Thalia I have observed what appears to be a young endo- 
sperm-layer, but have not been able to recognize any trace 
of such tissue in the older seed. The material, however, is 
insufficient to justify a positive statement as to the formation 
of either temporary or permanent endosperm in these seeds. 
Although most recent writers separate the Cannaceae from 
the Marantaceae, they are still united by some into a single 
group. Apart from the marked differences in ovary and fruit 
between Carina and the other genera, the striking uniformity 
and peculiar form of the ovules in all of the latter so far as 
known, the development of the body of the seed chiefly from 
the nucellus of the ovule, and the formation of perisperm- 
canals, as compared with the striking divergence of Carina in 
all these respects, seem to afford ample ground for the separa- 
tion of the latter genus as the type of a distinct family. 
Certain peculiarities common to these two families will be 
found to be shared by other Scitamineae, now to be de- 
scribed. 
Zingiber aceae. 
Passing now to this largest, both in genera and in species, 
of the families of Scitamineae, we find, nevertheless, that the 
structure and development of its seeds have received still less 
attention than in any other of these families. Except in 
Globba and the related genera, which have a unilocular ovary 
with three parietal placentas, the gynaeceum shows the struc- 
ture most common in the Scitamineae. Each ovary normally 
forms a dehiscent capsule with numerous seeds, which are 
commonly so closely packed as to be irregularly angular from 
mutual pressure. The most complete material studied was 
that of an undetermined species of Costus , which may be 
taken as the basis for the discussion of the family. Less 
complete material of C. speciosns , Sm., agreed in all essentials 
with the former, so far as comparison was possible. 
The ovule shows, at a very early stage, before the integu- 
ments have begun to appear, a sub-epidermal archesporial cell 
(a, Fig. 41 , PI. Ill), distinguished by its greater size. The tapetal 
