336 Saxton. — Contributions to the Life-history of 
and, with one or two exceptions, both male cells have proved to be 
functional. They always fertilize two archegonia which are either adjacent 
or separated by one unfertilized archegonium, one of them being vertically 
above the other as regards the long axis of the prothallus. 
After fertilization the numerous unfertilized archegonia quickly de- 
generate, and evidently function as a nutritive tissue, taking the place, 
in this respect, of the jacket cells commonly present in other Conifers, but 
which are quite absent here. 
The male and female nuclei are of approximately equal size and similar 
structure, both immediately before and during fertilization, as shown in 
Figs. 33, 34, and 34 a. As far as the sexual nuclei are concerned, each of 
these figures is typical of a number of preparations, but in other respects 
each shows an interesting abnormality. Reference has already been made 
to Fig. 33 as the only case seen of a ventral canal cell. No such structure 
has been seen in other preparations ; also the two neck cells are intact, 
and the male nucleus has evidently penetrated the archegonium from 
the side. 
Fig. 34 is the only case noted where the second male nucleus was 
definitely identified in a degenerate condition left behind in the tube. The 
body shown at the apex of the archegonium appeared to be the collapsed 
remains of the cytoplasm of the functional male cell, but this is not certain, 
and in other cases it is clear that the cytoplasm passes into the archegonium, 
as well as the male nucleus, at the time of fertilization. The exceptional 
case figured is, however, interesting in comparison with the same stage in 
Sequoia (Lawson (14)), where the cytoplasm is normally left behind in the 
tube. 
Fig. 35 is about the same stage of fusion as Fig. 34, but is the only case 
noted showing a clear difference in size between the male and female 
nuclei. 
The two sexual nuclei may almost always be seen to be surrounded by 
a starch sheath. Its origin is obscure, as no starch is visible in either the 
mature male cell or the mature archegonium. Its appearance in later 
stages is rather sporadic ; speaking generally, it is not seen in connexion 
with any nuclei in mitosis, except early in the first division, but reappears 
after the daughter nuclei are fully organized. It has practically disappeared 
by the time the proembryo is mature, and is never seen after the suspensor 
begins to elongate. 
To make the following description clear, the terms ‘ apex ’ and c base * 
and ’ long axis ’ will refer to the archegonium and not to the prothallus. 
Since the long axis of the archegonium is at right angles to that of the 
prothallus, the need for such a distinction is obvious. 
In the first division, the spindle (Fig. 36) is seen to be entirely intra- 
nuclear, as usual, and the poles are rather broad. The stage figured is 
