Marquette, Manifestation of polarity in plant cells which usw. 297 
closely against the nucleus, in some cases at one end of tlie 
somewhat elongated nucleus. Frequently the elaioplast lies so close 
to tlie nucleus as to deform it. There are few data relative to 
the behavior of the elaioplasts during nuclear division. According 
to Raciborski 1 ) they play no part whatever in it; he also maintains 
that they are fonned de novo in the cytoplasm. 
I may note in this connection a polar Organization during 
synapsis which I liave observed in two other of the higher 
Pteridophytes and which requires further study. If spore-mother- 
cells of Equisetum hyemale are examined during the synapsis stages 
it is seen that a more or less sliarply bounded mass lies in the 
cytoplasm at one side of the eccentrically placed nucleus. This 
mass consists of numerous closely packed granules, largely starch, 
of varying sizes which frequently show an affinity for orange if 
stained with the triple stain. Upon this mass well developed 
cytoplasmic rays are centered (fig. 8) so that the figure has a 
striking resemblance to an archoplasmic region with radiatiöns 
proceeding from it, as known for various animal cells. 2 ) The spore 
mother cells of Equisetum are usually distinctly elongated at the 
time of synapsis, the nucleus almost invariably lying at one end of: 
the cell. The chromatin is aggregated at the side of the nucleus. 
nearest the cell wall. Just as regularly the dense aggregation in 
the cytoplasm lies on the side of the nucleus opposite the synaptic 
mass. These relations stand out strikingly in cells which, after 
fixation in osmic acid mixtures, are teased out of the spore sacs 
and examined wliole. The relation is just the reverse of that 
obtaining between synaptic mass and centrosome in animal cells. 
Here, as has been frequently figured, 3 ) the chromatin is aggregated 
on the side of the nucleus next to tlie centrosome. 
I have observed a similar definite Orientation of the synaptic 
mass in the spore mother cells of Marsilia quadrifolia. These cells 
also show a more or less sliarply defined dense mass in the 
cytoplasm'at one side of the nucleus consisting largely of small 
starch grains, and here the chromatin is regularly aggregated on 
the side of the nucleus adjacent to the mass of starch grains. 
(Fig. 9.) I have not worked out in detail the further history of 
these accumulations in either Equisetum or Marsilia and am not 
in a position to say whether they are related to each other or 
what their relation is, if any, to the polar structures of Isoetes. 
Bijt it is not only in these* more or less isolated cases tliat 
we have evidence of a polar Organisation of the higher plant cells. 
All the higher plants during at least one stage of their life 
history show such an Organisation of their cells before any 
q Raciborski. M.: Über die Entwickelungsgeschichte der Elaioplasten bei 
Liliaceen. (Bull, inter. d. l’acad. d. Sei. de. Cracovie. 1893. p. 259.) 
2 ) Hermann: Arch. mikr. Anat. Bd. XXXVII. PI. XXXI. 
3 ) See for example Farmer, J. B. and Moore, J. E. S. The maiotic phase 
in animals and plants. (Quart. Jour. Micros. Sei. Yol. 48. PI. XL Fig. 72) and 
Schreiner, A. und K. E. Über die Entwickelung der männlichen Geschlechts¬ 
zellen von Myxine glutinosa. (Arch. de. Biol. T. XXI. Figs. 52, 71, 170 etc.) 
