Seeds and their Geinnination 



Plant broad and narrow beans, Indian corn, water-melon 

 or pumpkin seeds, and any others which you may have gathered. 



As soon as the bean plant begins to make its appearance 

 above the soil, an examination will reveal two thick leaves 

 placed opposite to one another. Between them there is a 

 small leaf-bud with one leaf folded within another. They are 

 attached to the stem, which extends below the first pair of fleshy 

 leaves and joins the root. It may be difficult to say where the 

 stem ends and the root begins. Now compare a seed which 

 has been soaked in water a few 

 hours. Before removing the seed- 

 coat notice the scar or hilum by 

 which the bean was attached to the 

 pod. 



At one end of the hilum is a small 

 hole, the micropyle. The seed-coat 

 comes off easily and the seed splits 

 into two parts, which you will see 

 correspond to the two fleshy leaves. 



kUton 



micropyle 



Fig. 6. — Bean seed before 

 removing the coat. 



Fu;. 7. — Bean seed with coat 

 removed. 



plunmle 



scarofcoOfledon^ 



Todicle 

 cotyledons. 



Fig. 8. — Bean seed with one cotyledon 

 removed. 



They are called cotyledons. Between these two halves 

 there lies a small curved body, at one end of which may be 

 seen the two small leaves the plumule. The other end, which 

 will make the root, is called the radicle. So a seed contains 

 a whole plant, very small and compact, ready to develop into 

 a large plant when warmth and moisture are supplied. The 

 small plant folded away in tlie seed is called the Embryo. 



Instructions for Work. — Make a drawing of the outside 

 of a bean seed. Carefully look to see how the parts are placed 

 within. At which end of the seed is the plumule with reference 



