Female gametophyte and embryo development in western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla)

Abstract

A morphological study of the female gametophyte and embryo development was made for western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.) growing in the Victoria, B.C., area. Western hemlock follows a pattern of development similar to other members of the Pinaceae. A comparison was also made between development in western hemlock and other gymnosperm families. Meiosis of the megaspore mother cell in western hemlock begins in early February and is completed at the end of the first week in March. This is 3 weeks before pollination. Fertilization occurs 6 weeks after pollination, in the middle of May. Embryo development takes place throughout June and July and the embryo is mature by the middle of August. Seed fall occurs throughout September, 5 months after pollination.