CANNABIS SATIVA 



2.17 



the longer one being 1.4 to 1.6 cm., the shorter i.o to 1.3 cm. long. 

 The cotyledons function both as photosynthetic and storage organs 

 for 15 to xo days, when they become discolored, shrivel, and finally 

 fall. 



The cotyledons are obovate to spatulate, taper toward their 

 bases, and the terminal portions are somewhat recurved. They are 

 sessile and connate at the base, forming a cotyledonary collar. 

 The venation consists of a prominent midrib with two lateral veins 

 arising from its base which unite with two others that originate 



'--y 



Fig. 108. A, median longisection of fruit cut perpendicular to cotyledonary plane; B, 

 diagram of cotyledonary collar showing venation. The collar has been cut open in inter- 

 cotyledonary plane and the cotyledons spread with abaxial surface up : coll v, collar vein ; 

 cot, cotyledon ; cot coll, cotyledonary collar ; eel, epicotyl ; end, endodermis ; fr c, fruit coat ; 

 /■«/, integument ; /.leaf; /t', primary lateral vein ; /r', secondary lateral vein; wi', mid vein; 

 pr rt, primary root ; sty e, stylar end. (After Berkman.) 



from the midvein at about the midpoint of the cotyledon and 

 extend to the apex. (Fig. 108, B.) The lamina of the cotyledon is 

 thicker and more spongy than that of the first foliage leaves. The 

 mesophyll is chlorophyllose, consisting of two or three layers of 

 palisade cells which occupy the adaxial half of the leaf, and as 

 many as ten or more layers of spongy parenchyma may develop 

 in the abaxial portion. Stomata occur with about equal frequency 

 in the upper and lower epidermal layers, and both surfaces produce 

 unicellular hairs. The cells of the adaxial epidermis have sinuous 

 walls, except where they overlie the median vein, while those of 

 the abaxial surface are rectangular with straight walls. 



