NATURE OF PLANTS in 



surrounded by a cell wall and attached to one side of the female 

 gametophyte, which is henceforth called the embryo sac (Fig. 

 81, A). By a series of divisions the gametospore now forms a 

 number of more or less elongated cells, the so-called suspensor, 

 and a terminal cell or embryo cell (Fig. 81, B, C) . In the 

 meantime the endosperm cell has divided again and again and 

 the resulting naked nuclei have become arranged around the 

 sides of the embryo sac (Fig. 81, B, en). This formation of 

 endosperm cells continues until they more or less fill the embryo 

 sac and they also become surrounded with cell walls. These 

 endosperm cells are filled with food and serve to nourish the 

 germinating gametospore just as the nucellus nourished the 

 female gametophyte. While the suspensory cells usually soon 

 cease to grow, the embryo cell divides very actively, as shown 

 in Fig. 81, C—E, and soon there is a clear indication of a minute 

 plant with root, stem and leaves (Fig. 81, F). This minute 

 plant developed by the germination of the gametospore, is called 

 the embryo. In the case of the plant under consideration the 

 embryo, when fully formed, consists of a stem with two laterally 

 placed leaves, the cotyledons and a root. The region of the 

 stem above the attachment of the cotyledons is known as the 

 epicotyl and frequently assumes the form of a minute bud, the 

 plumule. The region of the stem below the cotyledons is termed 

 its hypocotyl and the root and root cap appear at its lower end 

 (Fig. 82, A). The ovule containing the mature embryo is called 

 a seed. The interesting feature about the seed is the fact that 

 it is a structure in which growth has ceased and that it is capable, 

 owing to a remarkable series of devices that will be noted directly, 

 of remaining in this condition, i. c, dormant often for one or 

 more years. 



Great variation characterizes the germination of the gameto- 

 spore in the different groups of plants, but the development out- 

 lined above is fairly characteristic of those plants that form an 

 embryo with two cotyledons. Such plants are called for this 

 reason dicotyledons. Other plants develop an embryo with but 

 one cotyledon, as our grasses, lilies, etc., and for this reason they 



