SEEDS AND SEEDLINGS 



13 



The growth of the seedling is oriented by its response to 

 gravity, therefore it is not necessary to give consideration to 



. * .* **-■-■ <^ •. ■'.*. /__ 



Fig. 5. Seedlings of bean (left). The cotyledons protect the shoot as it comes 

 through the soil. The largest one shows a pronounced primary root. Pea (right). The 

 cotyledons remain where they were planted, but the shoot pushes through the soil in a 

 bent position protecting the growing point (i natural size). (By Antoinette K. Ketner.) 



the position of a planted seed. The radicle will even make 

 a sharp bend to grow downward if the seed is so placed that 

 it points upward. The same is true of the plumule. This 



