16 Olí THE FERTILIZATION^
i n t e i n a l l y until it becomes almost yertical at the internal limit of the zone of male flowers
( P l a t e IV, fig. 21). The central bracteal area is of a pale yellowish-green coloiir, the zone
of male flowers and their enclosing bracts is whitish., and the rest of the surface of a pale
pink, or occasionally of a bright rose coloui-, due to the pigmented cells of the styles and
s t i g m a t a of the gall-flowers. The cavity of the receptacle at this stage is devoid of fluid,
t h e internal surface of the wall smooth and even, and the ovaries of the gall-flowers aii'anged
i n a smgle row, or at utmost in two rows, due to some of them bemg sessile and others shortly
pedicellate (Plate IV, figs, 22, 25).
B.—Characters of gatt-rceepiacUs after access of insects, hut Ufore maturation.
T h e following data show the conditions present at various periods prior to maturation : —
1. Receptacle 16 days after access of insects t o tlie cavity
External diameter 2*-2
Thickness of-wall CI»-24
Depth of gall-flower stratum o'/.^g
T h e imier surface of the wall was no longer quite smooth, but liad be"Tm to show a
series of eleralious and depressions, and the ovaries of the gall flowers were already aiTano-ed
111 thi-ee or four superhnposed strata. The cavity was still empty.
2. Receptacle to which insects had recently gained access—
Esternal diameter
Diameter of area of male flowers and ostiolar bracts
Breadth of zone of .male flowers Q^.jg
Depth of ostiolar plug
Depth of the solid portion beneath the level where the bracts were
loosened, due to the corpses of iuseets interposed between them . , 0"-I6
Average thickness of the walls ^„.gg
Tkiokuess of sti'atam of gall-flowers '
I n this case the male flowers were present i n three or four rows. They liad emerged from
then- sheathing bracts, and the lobes of the outer periant h were beginning to sepai-ate The
muer surface of the stratum of gall-flowers was no longer composed of the stigmata but of
t h e sm^imits of the projecting cupolas of the ovaries, and the cavity of the receptacle was
f u l l of fluid. The colour of the interior was faint madder-brown, due to the deeply tinted
s t i g m a t a and sHghtly coloured ovaries. ^^
-3. Receptacle at a considerable-period after the access of insects-
External diameter
Diameter of area of ostiolar brauts in the eavitj " ' o"-33 x 0"-58
Breadth of zone of male flowers " "
Breadth of peripheral zone of gall-flowers on ostiolar face of the oavity ! 0'-54 to 0"-4
Ihieknessof-wall of receptacle .„.o-
Depth of stratum of gall-floirers
The peripheral area of gall-flowers around the zone of male flowers now projected above
t h e level of the latter in place of forming a groove. The cavity was full of fluid.
) ! ; ii
OF FICUS EOSBUEGnil.
4. Receptacle at a considerable period after the access of insects-
Diameter of area of ostiolar bracts C-SS x 0'-2
Breadth of zone of male flowers 0'''24
Breadth of peripheral prominent area of gall-flowers around the male
flowers on the ostiolar face of tho cavity (¡'•.47 Jq qv.jj
Thickness of reoeptacular wall 0"-37
Depth of stratum of gall-flowers q'/.^
The cavity was full of fluid and the internal surface of tlie wall uneven.
5. Receptacle almost mature; weight 387 g r amme s -
Depth of stratum of gall-flowers in somo parts 0"-61
The cayity contained 20c.o. of a reddish-brow alkaline ñnid fall of fine, »mended
partióles, almost transparent when filtered, and with a specific gravity of 1116-3 Tile
s t i a t nm of gall-flowers was very thick, and in some places contained 8 or 9 tiers of superimposed
ovaries. ^
6. Receptacle almost mature—
DeptJi of ostiolar plug
Diameter of area of male flowers occupying tlie centre of ostiolar face of
Breadtli of peripheral area of gall-flower« .rouud the male flowers . . O'-S
Thickness of the reoeptacular wall
Cavity full of fluid. Ostiolar scales now aH convergent, and no longer visible from the
i n t e r i o r unless after pushing outwards the convergent flowers of the now centrally situated
male area. Interior of the wall of the receptacle very uneven, being covered by a series of
elevations and depressions (Plate IV, fig. 26).
a— Oharasters of mature gaU-reespiacles io which insects haw gained access.
The following are the data regarding a specimen in this condition
Bstcmal diameter
Diameter of prominent man of malo flowers in the centre of the ostiolar "
face of the cavity
Diameter of ostiolar orifice internally .. . ^^^
Breadth of area around it oocupisd hy ba«cs of male flower. ' .' ! ! ! m
Thickness of ostiolar plug of hraots q, g
Breadth of peripheral aroa of ostiolar fao. of the cavity occupied h j g.iu-'
flowora
Thickness of recoptaeular wall. e- « ,
Depth of stratum of galMomr s '. ' . ' . • . ' , j" 5
The receptacukr cavity was empty, and its walls very uneven. The male flowers
had their stamens widely e.xpanded, and formed a conspicuous lomided elevation on the
centre of the ostiolar space. It was only on separating the central flower, that the
ostiolar orifice bocame visible. It was firmly closed by ostiolar bracts, even the supoiieial
Ann-. Rov. Bot. Q-ard, Calcuita, Vor.. I. Appendix.