NOTES 
ANOMALIES IN THE OVARY OF SENECIO VULGARIS, L.~ 
In all the species of Compositae examined hitherto, with the exception 
of Taraxacum officinale 1 and Zinnia spp., 2 only one ovule has been 
reported in each ovary. Schwere 1 figures two ovules with embryo sacs 
in T. officinale , but in this case they were apparently basal. In the present 
investigation of Senecio vulgaris several abnormalities have been observed 
which are of phylogenetic importance. The occurrence of biovulate ovaries 
was noted in several instances, two of which are figured (Figs, i and 2). 
In the former case the archesporial cell is quite distinct, and a wall two cells 
thick extends across the ovary. The occurrence of a biovulate, bilocular 
ovary is interesting confirmation of the derivation of the unilocular ovary 
of the Compositae from the former type. Both ovules in this case were on 
Fig. 1. Fig. 2. 
one side of the ovary, but in the latter case (Fig. 2), where there is no wall, 
the ovules are placed on either side of the ovary. The four ancestral 
placentae are thus indicated. In both cases the ovules are lateral. 
Numerous cases of single lateral ovules were observed in the younger 
stages (Fig. 3), and this is an abnormality of some importance. Particular 
care was exercised in determining that these ovules were truly lateral ; the 
presence of conducting cells and the arrangement of the adjacent parenchyma 
leave no doubt as to the actual attachment of the ovule to the side wall of 
the ovary. The arrow in the figures indicates the position of the axis. 
Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section, tangential to the axis. 
1 Schwere, S. : Zur Entwickelungsgesch. der Frucht von Taraxacum officinale. Flora, vol. Ixxxii, 
1896. 
2 Don, D. : On the Origin of the Ligulate Rays in Zinnia. Trans. Linn. Soc., vol. xvi, 1829. 
[Annals of Botany* Vol. XXX. No. CXVII. January, 1916.] 
