Seeds and their Germination 



will be found. The plumule is too small to be seen without a 

 lens. 



When drawing a pine seed, draw the seed- coat around the 

 endosperm. A thin papery layer will be found between the two. 

 It once contained food. Draw it by a light line inside the 

 seed- coat. 



In the Hottentot fig or T'gaukum (Mesembrianthemiim) 

 the embryo is curved around the endosperm. 



Examine some seeds of " mealies " or Indian corn {Zea 



Fig. io. — Seed of Mes- 

 embrianthemum with 

 curved embryo. 



Fig. II.— Seed of Zea mays, a, embryo at one side 

 of endosperm ; b, embryo removed ; c, seed cut 

 through, showing plumule, radicle, and side roots. 



mays). Notice a small raised place on one side toward the 



smaller end. By soaking the seed and removing the coat this 



little body may be removed. It is the embryo. The greater 



part of the seed is filled with 



endosperm. The embryo has 



but one cotyledon, which lies 



close to the endosperm on one 



side, and on the other is joined 



to the plumule and radicle. They 



are so covered by the folded 



cotyledon or scutellum that only 



the tips can be seen. 



The large seeds of the "April Fool" (Hcemanthus) have 

 but one cotyledon. The embryo is a small rod-shaped body 

 lying in the centre of the endosperm. Around the endosperm 



Fig. 12. — HcEmanthus seed. a, 

 embryo ; b, endosperm ; c, food 

 outside the endosperm partly 

 used ; d, seed-coat. 



