148 Bulletin Jard. Bot. Buitenzqrg, Série 111, Vol. V. Livr. 2. 



Contents of endosperm. 



In commerce the kernel yields kernel oii a prodiict used in the in- 

 dustries. As high as fifty percent oil is secured from the endosperm, The oil 

 is found in ail the ceils of the endosperm (except in the crushed cells that 

 form the linings of the cavities) in the form of globules of varying sizes. 

 The ce!ls on the border between the periphery of the endosperm and the 

 cork layer contain fewer drops of oil and aiso smaller aleuron grains. The 

 other cells of the endosperm show varying proportions of oil and aleuron grains. 



TSCHIRCH (^^) gives the following as the composition of the kernel oil 

 extracted from ElaeiS: main constituent lauric acid, oleicacid palmitic acid, 

 myristic acid, caprylic acid, capric acid and phtytosterol. In prepared and 

 fixed material the fat of the endosperm cells is crystalized out (WlESNER 

 Bd. 11. p. 699). 



WlESNER (^'^) Bd. I p. 658 quoting from OUDMANS gives the following 

 as the composition of kernel oil: oleic acid, glyceral tristearate, palmitic acid, 

 myristic acid, lauric acid, capric acid, caprylic acid and caproic acid. 



The aleuron grains too vary in size and they are found in ail of the cells of 

 the endosperm. Thèse in their structure are like those described in other plant 

 cells. The rhomboid and globoid crystals are included within a granular matrix. 



\n addition to the above mentioned contents of the cells must be in- 

 cluded the nuclear and cytoplasmic remains of the cells which of course 

 are absorbed by the haustorium. The endosperm furnishes to the growing 

 plant the following substances. 



1). Celluloses — from its cell walls. 



2). Fats and oils stored in the cells. 



3). Proteins and inorganic substances in the aleuron grains. 



4). Cytoplasmic and nuclear substances and their inclusions. 



Germination of the seed. *) 



The immense amount of work that has been done on germination in 

 in the monocotyledons alone makes it almost surperfluous to enter into a 

 lengthy discussion of the literature hère. That is equally true of the Palniac 

 which hâve long been the objects of such investigations. Elaeis shows no 

 marked departure in germination from other palms. There would be little 

 justification for a detailed description of the stages were it not for the 

 interesting internai phenomena that are associated with germination. Ail 

 studies on germination in palms must go back to SACHS (='".•"'.•'-) work 

 on germination in grasses and palms. To be sure VON MOHL and even 

 carlier investigators hâve indicated the broad principles of germination in 

 the palms. However, it was not until Sachs' work appeared that the 

 intimate relationship of parts of the seed in the process of germination 

 become known. The works that hâve followed since Sachs hâve extended 



*) Klebs — Important survey of the types of germination and literature. 



