194 
Notes . 
ovule of Larix lepiolepis. Lawson says : ‘ The pollen-receiving device in Pseudo- 
tsuga is quite peculiar and unlike anything yet described for Gymnosperms. For 
some little time after pollination the nucellus presents the form of a small protuberance 
with a perfectly rounded apex (a). The integument (c) extends for a considerable 
distance beyond the nucellus. At a point immediately above the apex of the nucellus 
the integument bends inwards in such a fashion as to partly close or narrow the 
micropylar canal, and then sharply bends out again. This results in the formation of 
adistinct stricture midway between the apex of the nucellus and the mouth of the 
micropyle (d). As a result of this peculiar curvature of the integument, the micropylar 
canal is not a straight passage of uniform width, but consists of two chambers, one 
immediately above the apex of the nucellus and the other near the mouth of the 
micropyle. In addition to this narrowing in the middle region of the micropyle, the 
integument is still further modified. The extremity of the integument which forms 
the mouth of the micropyle is folded inward (e). On the inner surface of this 
enfolding extremity numerous fine hair-like processes are present. A close examina- 
tion of these processes makes it clear that they were not cellular in structure, but were 
merely outgrowths from the external walls of the epidermal cells. They serve very 
effectively, however, as a stigmatic surface.’ The hairs in Larix lepiolepis are firmer 
than those figured by Lawson, and arise from a basal plate (g). He goes on to say 
that pollen-grains were never found on the nucellus : ‘ They were invariably found in 
the upper chamber of the micropyle and frequently entangled in the hair-like 
processes of the mouth.’ A similar condition is found in lepiolepis , the figure 
showing a pollen-grain so entangled (f). 
The quotation shows how like the two ovules are. The explanation may be, 
and most probably is, biological, but may also have some phylogenetic significance. 
The megaspore membrane in lepiolepis does not cover the upper end of the endo- 
sperm, a condition similar to Pseudotsuga. There are very small archegonial 
chambers in both. Lawson states the frequent presence of only one tier of neck- 
cells in Pseudotsuga . In Z. lepiolepis the prevailing condition seems to be one tier of 
five cells. There are typically five archegonia in Z. lepiolepis , four to six in Pseudo- 
tsuga. All these points are, of course, of minor importance, but with the peculiar 
sameness of the ovules there is an obvious temptation to magnify them. The detailed 
investigation may, however, settle the point. 
II. The archegonial jackets usually touch, so that two archegonia are only 
separated by two cell-layers. Frequently these coalesce to one, and even the arche- 
gonia may be separated only by the shrivelled remains of degenerated jacket-cells. 
III. Double pollen-grains are very plentiful in Z. lepiolepis , as already described 
by Coker (Bot. Gaz , vol. xxxviii) for Z. europaea , by Hutchinson (Bot. Gaz., April, 
I 9 I 5 ) for Picea , and others. Their origin will be investigated next spring, as, even 
though material was first collected on March 15, practically all the pollen was shed 
on March 16, in spite of the fact that the spring was a phenomenally late one. 
Z. europaea presents similar features. 
IV. There is one last point — a vegetative abnormality. As is well known, the 
male buds of the Larch appear terminally on dwarf shoots from the second year on. 
While collecting such buds — already well developed in August — a case was noticed of 
a dwarf shoot carrying such a bud. The shoot was six years old, judging by the 
