Seeds and their Germination 15 



pare them with germinating seeds of onion and date. The 

 latter germinate very slowly. Plant them early in the year. 

 AVatch for acorns that have been left on the ground for 



Fig. 21.— Little " April Fool " plants {Hce- FiG. 22. — Growing 



manthiis). seed of Apono- 



geton (" Water 

 Uintjes "). 



several weeks after falling. Notice how the plant splits the 

 hard shell, and how the root pushes down and anchors the 

 seed. 



Plant other seeds that are about your home. The Silver 

 Tree has large seeds which germinate readily. Arum " lily " 

 seeds may be compared with those of Hcemanthus. Apo?io- 

 geton seeds may be found soon after flowering. Notice how 

 little the radicle develops. A stem soon appears at one side 

 of the cotyledon which bears roots below and leaves above. 



Kafir corn may be germinated with Indian corn. In 

 studying germination, take plenty of time to make simple 

 drawings of each plant. Drawings should be made to show 

 the plumule unfolded. 



In the seeds we have studied the cotyledons have their 

 special work to do. 



The cotyledons of the broad bean simply yield up their 

 food to the growing plant. 



In Zea mays the cotyledon not only gives up its own store, 

 but absorbs and passes on the food in the endosperm. 



A third form is found in the date seed, where only the tip 



