The development of embryo-sac and embryo has been described in
Spermacoce hispida and
Guettarda speciosa.
The haploid numbers,Spermacoce (n = 28) andGuettarda (n = 22), previously reported, are confirmed. Meiosis is described in some detail.
The development of the strophiole has been traced and it is considered to have little phylogenetic importance.
The suggestion previously made that 11 was the basic number of the family is confirmed by data gathered in this paper.
The evolution of the chromosome numbers in this family is discussed in the light of data known in connection with nucellar
evolution. A correlation is established between the two and a few tentative schemes of nucellar and chromosomal evolution
suggested.
An erratum to this article is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF03049132.