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94 ON THE SEXUAL OKGANS OF THE CYCADACE^.<br />

tissue is slightly different, but there is no definite membrane admitting<br />

' of separation. I cannotcl early comprehend what Gottsche means by the<br />

yellow membrane which, according to him, covers the endosperm (Bot.<br />

Zcit. 1. c. p. 398), unless he has m view the remains of the nucleus.<br />

It is not unusual to see germination commence iu the undetached<br />

seed itself; the radicle pierces the remains of the summit of the nucleus<br />

and appears externally (Plate XCII. fig. 11). We must interpret in<br />

this way the figure of the embryo of Maa-ozomia which I published in<br />

1845 (Ann. des Sc. Nat. 1. c). In this instance the embryonic con-<br />

dition had been passed and the first leaves developed.<br />

It must be remarked that in all Cycads the plumule is only composed<br />

of a few scales. On this and other points I may refer to my<br />

communications in the Ann. des Sc. Nat. 1. c, and in ' Linnaea ' xix.<br />

p. 5. The parts which produce the pollen,* and which compose<br />

the male cone, are in every point the morphological equivalents of the<br />

carpophylls. It would be perfectly correct to call them anthers, but<br />

from their analogy to the female organs, and to avoid the risk of con-<br />

founding them with their loculi (which many authors continue very<br />

improperly to call anthers), it will be perhaps preferable to adopt the<br />

terra androphylh. They are always smaller and simpler in shape than<br />

the carpophylls, !)ut their structure presents no essential difference.<br />

Tlie polygonal cells of the epidermis are much thickened, and the sto-<br />

mata are deeply situated among them.<br />

The principal point which arises here relates to the development of<br />

the numerous polliniferous loculi (' lotjettes ') which are situated on<br />

the under surface of the androphylls, and which were formerly looked<br />

upon as distinct anthers.f Mohl has observed with reason that the<br />

way in which I had explained in my monograph the evolution and<br />

morjihological meaning of these loculi was not consistent (' A'^ermischte<br />

Schriften,' p. 57).<br />

They are placed on the lower face of the androphyll (which is also<br />

their situation in the peltate forms) and on either side of the median<br />

line, and they spring in groups of two to four, or rarely of five from a<br />

* The numerous figures wliic-li exist of these ovgans may be consulted.<br />

t Tills was the opinion of Kichai'd (Diet. Class, d'ilist. Nat. tome v. p.<br />

21G). Other views as to their nature are discussed by R. Brown in the Appendix<br />

to Captain Kiug's Voyage (Miscellaneous Bot. Works, vol. i. p.<br />

459, et seq). Lindley (Veget. Kiugd. p. 223), adopting Richard's view, terms<br />

tiie androphylls " antheriferous cone scales."— W. T. D.

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