OR WHITE. 231 



leaves, being destined solely to nourish the germina- 

 ting embryo, till its roots can perform their office. In 

 the Date TAvn, f. 199, Gartner^ t. 9, this part is 

 nearly as hard as a stone ; in Mirahilis^ Exot. Bot. t. 

 23, it is like wheat flour. It is wanting in several 

 tribes of plants, as those with compound, or with 

 cruciform flowers, and the Cucumber or Gourd kind, 

 according to Ga^rtncr. Some few leguminous plants 

 have it, and a great number of others which, like 

 them, have cotyledons besides. We are not however 

 to suppose that so important an organ is altogether 

 wanting, even in the above-mentioned plants. The 

 farinaceous matter, destined to nourish their embryos, 

 is unquestionably lodged in their cotyledons, whose 

 sweet taste as they begin to germinate often evinces 

 its presence, and that it has undergone the same chem- 

 ical change as in Barley. The Albumen of the Nut- 

 meg is remarkable for its eroded variegated appear- 

 ance, and aromatic quality ; the cotyledons of this 

 seed are very small. 



Vitellus, the Yolk, first named and fully illustrated 

 by Qjertner, is less general than any of the parts al- 

 ready mentioned. He characterizes it as very firmly 

 and inseparably connected with the Embryo, yet nev- 

 er rising out of the integuments of the seed in germi- 

 nation, but absorbed, like the Albumen, for the nour- 

 ishment of the Embryo. If the Albumen be present, 

 the Vitellus is always situated between it and the Em- 

 bryo, and yet is constantly distinct from the former. 

 The Fitellus is esteemed by Gasrtner to compose the 

 bulk of the seed in Fuei, Mosses and Ferns, as well 



