192 



CUPULIFER^. 



[part I. 



covered by the adnate calyx (h), which has 

 become hard and shining. There is a circular 

 mark or scar at the bottom of the 

 acorn when taken out of its cup, 

 which is called the hilum; and 

 when the acorn is planted, this 

 part should be kept upwards, as 

 the foramen or part where the 

 germ lies is at the other end. 

 When the acorn begins to ger- 

 minate, it opens at the foramen, 

 cracking a little about half-way 

 down, but not dividing entirely 

 (seejlr/. 86). The root (a) then 

 begins to protrude, and soon 

 after the plumule, or young shoot 

 (h), the leaves of which gradually 

 unfold themselves. A curious 

 experiment may be tried by sus- 

 pending an acorn in a glass of 

 water, or by placing it in one 

 of those glasses with a wide 

 mouth and a narrow neck, used 

 for nosegays ; when, if kept in a 

 Fig. 86.-GERMrNA- sitting - Toom, the acorn will 

 coR.v. gj.g^([yg^iiy opcu, aud tlic root and 

 leaves develop themselves; and thus may be 

 watched the first beginning of the monarch of 

 the forest, the progress of which is so strikingly 



/ 



V 



