Macrosporogenesis and Development of the Embryo Sac of Lilium Henryi

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Abstract
The egg is removed from the macrospore mother cell of L. henryi by 4 divisions instead of 3 as has usually been described for members of this genus. After the meiotic divisions, 3 of the 4 resulting nuclei pass to the chalazal end of the embryo sac and then all divide simultaneously. In the course of this division the spindles of the 3 chalazal nuclei unite and a single bipolar spindle bearing 36 chromosomes is formed. As a result of the 3rd division, the embryo sac is again 4-nucleate, haying 2 haploid nuclei at the micropylar end and 2 triploid nuclei at the chalazal end. After 1 further division an 8-nucleate, 7-celled embryo sac is formed. In fertilization, 1 6 gamete nucleus unites with the egg nucleus to form the zygote nucleus (2n) and the other[male] gamete nucleus unites with the 2 polar nuclei, 1 small (n) and 1 large (3n), to form a 5n primary endosperm nucleus. Preparations showing embryo sac development in L. speciosum, L. philadelphicum, L. longiflorum var. eximium (L. har-risii), L. regale, L. auratum, L. elegans, L. martagon, L. pardalinum, L. philippinense, and L. tenuifolium reveal a history similar to that described for L. henryi.

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