154 /l IV. Oliver . 
into close association with the whole of the internal tissue of the 
seed, whilst an adequate water-supply is secured through the 
bundles v. 
Up to this period of development the rumination is restricted 
to that portion of the seed which has arisen by intercalary 
growth below the free nucellus. This region, however, constitutes 
by far the greater part of the seed. In a ripening seed (June 30 th) 
of 35 m.m. length, a typical instance, the free portion of the nucellus 
did not exceed 1.5 m.m. in height, whilst the intercalated portion 
reached 30 m.m. Later, the intrusive folds appear to be carried up 
into the free portion, but this is probably rather a mechanical 
necessity than a point of phylogenetic significance. In these 
“ cycadean ” seeds the whole centre of activity may be supposed to 
have been transferred from the free to the secondary (“ adherent ”) 
portion of the nucellus. 1 
Attention has been directed to the marked resemblance existing 
between Packytesta and Lagenostoma, more especially to the longitu¬ 
dinally running chambers in the endotesta, and to the interlocking 
of this zone with the nucellus. In Torreya these chambers are 
wanting, whilst an additional integument is represented in the aril. 
The interlocking of the nucellus with the zone corresponding to 
endotesta attains, however, a striking development in the inter¬ 
calated portion of the seed. Can this feature in the last-named 
genus be regarded as a survival or an advance upon the Packytesta 
condition ? or, is it a mere coincidence like the centripetal wood in 
Cephalotaxus Kovaiana 2 ? Actually, of course, we know very little about 
Packytesta, since the only stage found preserved (that figured) is 
probably anterior to fertilization. Even in that case the inter¬ 
locking may have been but a stage in a sort of rumination. In 
Lagenostoma the meaning of the interlocking is obscure. It can 
hardly be interpreted as having been physiologically equivalent to 
what is termed rumination, though it too may possibly be a curious 
survival of the condition found in Packytesta. That the beginnings of 
rumination in Torreya are only recognisable long after fertilization 
has taken place (not till April in the second year when embryos are 
already forming) is just what might be expected in a modern seed 
which has become thoroughly adapted to the proper nutrition of its 
contained embryo. 
1 The considerations which lead to the belief that the seeds of 
Torreya and other Taxnceae, of Cycads and Cordaiteae, 
together with many unassigned palaeozoic seeds, belong to 
plants ot common descent cannot be set forth here. 
2 cf/. This Journal, vol. I., p. 29. 
University College, London, jfnly, 1902 . 
