Abstract: Ultrastructures of the mature embryo sac of Calystegia hederacea Wall. and its changes after fertilization are described. The positional organization of the egg cell, the two synergids and the central cell, as well as their interrelationships were studied. Some regions of the cell boundaries between the egg cell and the central cell, as well as between the egg cell and the synergids were devoid of typical cell wall before fertilization, displayed a feature quite similar to the characteristic absence of the cell wall in the fertilization target zone occurred in most angiosperms. Besides the genera ultrastructural characteristics of the egg apparatus and the central cell, there were several unusual aspects in C. hederacea, such as the egg nucleus located above the large vacuole near the chalazal end of the cell, many polyribosomes in the cytoplasm of the egg cell and wall ingrowths on both sides of the hooks of the central cell. All these unusual characteristics seemed to be closely associated with the short duration of the fertilization and the absence of antipodal cells in the mature embryo sac. It is concluded that the female germ unit of C. hecleracea is considered to be a topographical and physiological unit to realize their functions for successful double fertilization.

Key words: Female germ unit, Egg cell, Synergid cell, Central cell, Ultrastructure, Calystegia hederacea