408 ON THE FEMALE FLOWER AND FRUIT OF
or mucous tubes only in Cytinus, in which they pass along the surfaces of a definite number of cylindrical cords exist- ing in the style until they reach the cavity of the ovarium, when they follow^ the direction of the placentae and become mixed with the ovula, to which I have not yet, however, found them actually attached.^
The structure of the pericarpium and the ripe seed of Bafflesia have been satisfactorily ascertained from the examination of a sinde fruit found anion o- the numerous flower-buds in various states which were received from Sumatra by Sir Stamford Raffles long after his return to England. In this fruit, which is very accurately represented of the natural size in Mr. Bauer's figure, the column, deprived entirely of its style-like processes, had become a compact fleshy mass, having deep fissures on its surface dividing it into nearly square lobes, somewhat resembling the surface of the dilated base of Testudinaria, and within, like the ovarium, exhibiting irregular cavities, whose sur- faces were thickly covered with minute seeds.
These seeds, which are also beautifully shown in Mr. Bauer's figures, differ but little in form from the ovula of the expanded but unimpregnated flower; they are con- siderably larger, however, and the apex of the funiculus is still more dilated. From their great hardness, as well as from their internal structure, they appear to be quite ripe ; and it is w^orthy of remark, that of the many thousands contained in the fruit, the very considerable portion seen were of uniform size and appearance.
The testa or outer integument, which is evidently that existing in the unimpregnated ovarium, is of such hardness and thickness that it may be termed a nut ; it is of a chest- nut colour, its surface regularly reticulate and deeply pitted, a depression occupying the centre of each areola.
The inner integument is a thin light-coloured membrane, 228] very slightly areolated, and of uniform surface. Within
1 In a few cases where the supposed pollen-tubes were present I found theui applied to the apices of the enlarged ovula. In some instances I have met with only a very loose tissue, consisting of elongated cells mixed with niucub, forming cords descending from the stigmata, and reaching to, but not extending beyond, the origin of the placentae.
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