78 SIR J. LUBBOCK—PHYTOBIOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS. 
however, say (‘ Genera Plantarum,’ p. 1223):—“ Embryo rectus v. 
rarius hippocrepicus, hilo parallelus v. in fructu monospermo 
erectus v. transversus.”’ 
In P. media the fruit is capsular, dry, membranous, 2-celled, and 
2—4-seeded. The seeds (figs. 161 and 162) are plano-convex, or 
subconcavo-convex, peltate, small, with equal obtuse ends ; or with 
the basal end slightly the broadest ; the testa is thin, pale brown ; 
hilum a little below the middle on the ventral aspect, round, deeper 
brown than the rest of the testa; the raphe tapers from the hilum 
obliquely towards the upper end of the testa. The perisperm is 
copious, fleshy, and white. The embryo is straight, narrow, white, 
a little shorter than the perisperm, and embedded in it, a little 
nearer the dorsal aspect of the seed and somewhat oblique to the 
median axis ; the cotyledons are linear-spatulate, tapering towards 
the base, obtuse, entire, and with their faces towards the placenta ; 
the radicle is inferior, obtuse, and shorter than the cotyledons. 
Fig. 161. Fig. 162. 
N 
^ 
Fig. 161. Plantago media. Longitudinal section of seed. x 8. 
Fig. 162. Ditto. Transverse section of seed. x 8. 
In P. lanceolata (fig. 163) the capsule is also 2-celled, with 
one seed in each cell. The seed is concave on the ventral side, at 
first pale green, at length becoming yellow. The hilum is oval, 
Fig. 163. 
Plantago lanceolata. Transverse section of seed. x 12. 
forming a white or pale spot about or a little below the middle 
on the ventral aspect. The perisperm is abundant, fleshy, or sub- 
horny when dry, and semitransparent. The embryo is straight; 
