310 



THE SEED. 



the former during germination, in the latter during the growth 

 of the seed. 



602. The albumen was named Perisperm by Jussieu, and 

 Endosperm by Richard (2/J, note) ; but neither name has in 

 sj'stematic botany displaced the earlier one of Grew and Ga.-rt- 

 ner. But both names have recently been brought into use to 

 distinguish between two kinds of albumen, that formed within 

 the embryo-sac, which is specifically termed KM>OMM.I;M. and that 

 formed without, which takes the name of PEIJISPKKM. This use 

 comports with the etymology of the two words, the former refer- 

 ring to a comparatively internal and the latter to an external 

 portion of the seed or kernel. 



di):}. In most seeds the albumen is endosperm: in Canna it 

 is all perisperm. In Xympluea and its allies (except Xelum- 

 bium, which has none) mostof it is perisperm ; 

 but a thin and condensed layer of endosperm 

 surrounds the embiyo, where with the per- 

 sistent embryo-sac (or the apex of it) it 

 forms the fleshy sac in which the embryo is 

 enclosed. It is the same in the Pepper Family 

 (Fig. 679) , except that there is a larger quau- 

 <;r:i tit}* of endosperm or inner albumen. 



604. When the nucleus of a ripe seed is hollow, as in the 

 cocoanut and mix vomica, the formation of endosperm, which 

 usually begins next the wall of the embryo-sac, has not proceeded 

 so as to fill the cavit}'. The embryo-sac in the cocoanut attains 

 enormous size, and the cavity is filled by the milky fluid. 



60"). The texture or consistence of the albumen di tiers greatly. 

 It is I'ltn'tKiceous or mealy when, consisting mainly of 'starch- 

 grains, it may readily be broken down into a powder, 

 as in wheat, buckwheat, &c. ; "////. when saturated 

 with a fixed oil, as in poppy-seed; Jleshy, when 

 more compact, but readily cut with a knife, as in 

 thi! seed of Barberry; mttrifiti/i/inns, when soft and 

 somewhat pulpy, as in Morning Glory and Mallow, 

 but when dry it becomes fleshy or harder : cnnn-mts, 

 when of the texture of horn, as in codec and the 

 seed of ( 'aiilopliylliun ; and even finny, as in the vegetable ivory, 

 the seed of Phytelephas. It is mostly uniform : but in the nutmeg, 



FIG. G79. Longitinlmal ma<;ni1ie<l section of a seeil of Black IV|i|>iT: showing the 

 largo episiierm, the small endosperm in the persistent embryo-sac, and in this the 

 minute- embryo. 



FIG fi0. Longitudinal section of ;\ seed of the so-called Pajiaw, Asimina triloba, 

 with ruminated albumen and minute embryo. 



