Alien-Spermatogenesis and Apogamy in Ferns. 13 
resting condition of the nucleus with finely divided chromatin 
and large nucleoles, such as is found between divisions in the 
eight or sixteen cell stage of the sac for example, (Cf. fig. 27 of 
Aspidium falcatum) or in the adjacent vegetative tissue of the 
prothallium, was not found at this stage. After the dispirem 
of the last division, the chromatin passes into a very heavy net- 
work, exceedingly dense and compact at first, hut becoming 
looser and more open as the cell and nucleus grow. (Fig- 1-5.) 
The chromatin strands throughout are thick and approximately 
uniform in diameter. The appearance at first glance all 
through this period is strongly suggestive of a spirem. Only 
by careful study can it be determined that there are real anasto¬ 
moses and not mere crossings of the. strands of chromatin. This 
net-work is distributed uniformly throughout the nucleus. 
The relatively small size of the nucleoles at this stage is also 
notable. The conspicuously large nucleoles found in each rest¬ 
ing nucleus in the earlier stages of development of the anther- 
idial sac, are represented here by two small nucleoles, easily 
overlooked, the time of whose appearance and disappearance is 
doubtful. 
Figures one to three show a stage in which the cells have 
begun to round up leaving intercellular spaces at their angles. 
The nucleus is somewhat irregular, conforming roughly to the 
general shape of the cell. As noted, it is completely filled by a 
dense close network of chromatin. Ho nucleoles have been ob¬ 
served at this stage. 
About half way between the nuclear membrane and the cell 
wall, is the blepharoplast. It stains bright red with safranin 
and is constantly present at this stage. It is not at this time a 
definite well-rounded granule. It is large, more or less trans¬ 
parent, irregular in outline, with ill-defined boundaries, the 
peripheral parts shading off gradually into the surrounding 
cytoplasm. Ho aster could be brought out by any method of 
fixing or staining which was tried. The blepharoplast may be 
comma-shaped (fig. 2) or more irregular (fig. 1). Sometimes 
there seem to be several darkly staining portions embedded in 
a less stained ground mass (fig. 3). 
The position of the blepharoplast bears no fixed relation to 
