Several species of Lilium are common in greenhouses, and these may be used where wild material is not available. In early stages, where the sporogenous cells have not yet begun to round off into spore mother-cells, it is sufficient to remove the perianth, retaining just enough of the receptacle to hold the stamens in place. Transverse sections show the six stamens and also the young ovary. After the spore mother-cells have begun to round off, each stamen should be removed so as to be cut separately. In securing the desirable stages showing the division of the mother-cell into microspores, much time and patience will be saved by determining the stage of development before fixing the material.
Mitosis is more or less simultaneous throughout an anther.
Long anthers are particularly favorable, since they may show a very closely graded series of the various phases of mitosis. Determine the stage by examining a few mother-cells before fixing. From what has been said, it is evident that longitudinal sections should be cut to show mitosis. Transverse sections should be cut to show the general structure of the anther.