Seeds and their Germination 



13 



Compare the germination of a common bean and that of 

 a broad bean. Both come up with a loop. Does the same 

 part of the stem form the loop? How do the cotyledons 

 behave in the narrow bean and in the broad bean ? The 

 cotyledons do not grow as in the calabas or pumpkin. Notice 

 how they wither as the food they contain is given up to the 



Fig. 20. — Bean seedlings. 



growing parts. When the loop pulled up the cotyledons in 

 the narrow bean, the tender leaves of the plumule folded 

 between them were also safely brought up. How is the 

 plumule brought above ground in the narrow bean ? The 

 plumule grows out into two pretty leaves. Notice carefully 

 the little cushions near the lower end of their stems. Were 

 these found in the calabas seeds ? 



