The Development of the Seed in the 
Scitamineae. 
BY 
JAMES ELLIS HUMPHREY, S.D., 
Lecturer in Botany, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, U.S.A. 
— M — • 
With Plates I-IV. 
T HE following pages contain the results of studies begun 
in the Botanical Institute of the University at Bonn and 
continued in America, chiefly in the Biological Laboratory of 
the Johns Hopkins University. The line of research was 
suggested by observations made incidentally on Carina , the 
study of which genus was begun with a very different purpose. 
As the material proved worthless for the work originally 
planned, but showed features of unexpected interest in con- 
nexion with the development of the seed from the ovule, the 
essential details of this process were followed out. The striking 
peculiarities shown by Canna made it seem desirable to com- 
pare other Scitamineae, especially since the plants of this 
order are so intimately related among themselves, yet occupy 
a position comparatively isolated with respect to other Mono- 
cotyledonous families. Although not so many forms have 
been examined as could be wished, it does not seem necessary 
[Annals of Botany, Vol. X. No. XXXVII. March, 1896.] 
B 
