36 



BOTANICAL GAZETTE 



[JANUARY 



The storage substances of the resting seed are mentioned here, 

 but they are later taken up in detail with the changes accompany- 

 ing germination. Tannin is generally distributed throughout the 

 coat. Some is stored in the 

 nucellus, endosperm wall, and 

 hypocotyl cap, but none was 

 found in the endosperm or em- 

 bryo. The embryo and endo- 

 sperm are stored with an abund- 

 ance of protein and fat, and also 

 a trace of glucose. No starch 

 was found in either endosperm 

 or embryo. Histidine, tyrosine, 

 and arginine are found in both 

 endosperm and embryo. There 

 is also a trace of leucine and 

 probably cystine. 



Catalase activity of the em- 

 bryo and endosperm is low, 

 while that of the coat is negli- 

 gible. The seed shows peroxi- 

 dase activity, with a mere trace 

 of oxidase activity. 



The resting seed embryo has 

 a P H value of about 8, while the 

 endosperm has a P H value of 

 about 5. Thus the embryo is 



Fig. 1. — Longitudinal section of seed of 

 Juniperus virginiana with part of nucellus 

 and integument removed from one side: 

 a, outer fleshy; b, stony; c, inner fleshy; 

 d, nucellus; e, distorted tissue; /, hypo- 

 cotyl cap; i, protective cap; /, mega- 

 spore membrane; k, endosperm wall; 

 g, endosperm; h, embryo. 



basic, while the endosperm is acid, a condition opposite to that 

 usually found in seeds which are ready for germination. 



Treatment of material 



After collection the larger part of the fruit or berry was removed 

 from the seed by running the berries through a coffee mill so wide 

 open as not to injure the seed. Next the seeds were sifted and 

 the milling and sifting repeated. The seed material was then 

 rubbed between two sieves in the presence of an abundance of 

 water. In this way all the berry and excess tissues which prevent 



