Cellularization of the female gametophyte in Ranunculus sceleratus

Wall formation in Ranunculus sceleratus takes place simultaneously at the micropylar and chalazal poles of the embryo sac. During the last (third) mitotic division resulting in an eight-nucleate embryo sac, three distinct cell plates are formed at either pole. Of the three cell plates, CPI (horizontal), CPE (oblique), and CPIII (vertical), the first two are formed between the separating chromatin masses of the two dividing nuclei. CPIII (vertical cell plate) arises subsequently between the first two plates. CPI (horizontal cell plate) extends perpendicular to the long axis of the embryo sac to separate the central vacuole and one nucleus (polar) from the quartet of nuclei. The other two cell plates extend simultaneously between the three remaining nuclei; CPII (oblique plate) cuts off one of the nuclei while CPIII (vertical cell plate) separates the other two. Consequently, the egg apparatus, central cell with two polar nuclei, and three antipodal cells are formed.