Observations on 1 Chromatin Bodies ’ and their Relation 
to the Nucleolus in Galtonia candicans* Decsne. 
BY 
L. DIGBY. 
With Plates XXXIII and XXXIV. 
Introduction. 
I N the course of an investigation of the first meiotic division of the pollen 
mother-cells of Galtonia candicans , it was noticed that during the pre- 
synaptic and synaptic nuclear stages a most constant extrusion of { chroma- 
tin bodies ’ takes place. This process is so striking in these cells that it 
seemed advisable to follow it out in detail, especially as somewhat similar 
phenomena have lately been described by several writers both in animal 
and plant cells. 
Methods. 
Care has been taken to check the work by using various methods both 
in * fixing ’ and in staining. Buds have been fixed on bright warm days 
between 11 a.m. and i p.m. in (i) Strong Flemming, (2) Hermann, (3) Alco- 
hol and Acetic. The material, for the most part, has been run up through 
the glycerine method, and has been left in paraffin, and that always at a low 
temperature, for three to three and a half hours. The stains used have been 
many, including Heidenhain with a counter stain ; Flemming’s Triple ; 
Breinl ( 17 ) ; Iodine Gentian-Violet and Orange G. ; Thionin Blue and 
Ruthenium Red ; Methylene Blue and Eosin. The sections have been cut 
of various thicknesses, the greater number at 3 /*, but some at 6 ^ and at 9 /a. 
Presynapsis and Synapsis. 
When the nucleus is preparing to go into synapsis there is a gradual 
concentration of the nuclear contents (PL XXXIII, Fig. 1) which eventually 
mass together at one side of the nucleus. At synapsis the nucleus lies 
excentrically in the cell (PI. XXXIII, Figs. 7,8, 9, &c.), the chromatin mass 
being always on the side of the narrow strip of cytoplasm. This mass, as 
[Annals of Botany, Vol. XXIII. No. XCI. July, 1909.] 
