334 FORMS OF SEEDS. 
the hilum and placed at the opposite end, while the micropyle 
and hilum correspond to each other ; while in amphitropous 
seeds, the chalaza and micropyle are both removed from the 
hilum, and placed transversely to it. ; 
Almost all seeds, like ovules, are more or less enclosed in a 
pericarp, the only real exceptions to this law being in Gymnosper- 
mous plants, as already referred to (page 325) under the head of 
the Ovue; and hence the division of Phanerogamous plants, as 
already noticed, into the Gymnospermia and the Angiospermia. 
The means of distinguishing small fruits from seeds have been 
also already described. (See pages 295 and 313.) 
In describing the position of the seed in the fruit, the same 
terms are used as already mentioned (page 326) under the head 
of the Ovute. Thus a seed may be erect, inverse, pendulous, 
suspended, ascending, &c. The number of seeds contained in 
the fruit or pericarp is also subject to variation, and corre- 
sponding terms are employed accordingly ; thus we say the 
fruit or pericarp is monospermous, bispermous, trispermous, 
quadrispermous, quinquespermous, multispermous, &c.; or one- 
seeded, two-seeded, three-seeded, fowr-seeded, five-seeded, many- 
seeded, &c. 
Having now alluded to those characters, &c., which the seed 
possesses in common with the ovule, we pass to the considera- 
tion of its special characteristics. 
Forms oF SEEDS.—Seeds vary much in form, and, in de- 
scribing these variations, similar terms are employed to those 
used in like modifications of the other organs of the plant. 
Fic. 749. Ere: 750; Fie. 7h. PiIGs woes 
Fig. 749. Rounded seed of the Watercress (Nasturtium officinale). The 
testa is reticulated or netted.— Fig. 750. Reniform seed of the Poppy 
(Papaver), with an alveolate or pitted testa. Fig. 751. Obovoid seed of 
the Larkspur (Delphinium), the testa of which is marked with ridges and 
furrows. Fig. 752. Seed of Chickweed (Stellavia), the testa of which is 
tuberculated. 
Thus, a seed may be rounded, as in the Nasturtiwm (fig. 749) ; 
ovoid, as in Polygala (fig. 759) ; oval, as in Asclepias (fig. 755) ; 
obovoid, as in Delphinium (fig. 751) ; reniform, as in Papaver 
(fig. 750), &e. &e. 
STRUCTURE OF THE SEED.—The seed consists essentially of 
two parts ; namely, of the inner substance or body of the seed, 
which is commonly termed the Nucleus or Kernel (figs. 36, emb, 
alb, and 757, N), and Inteyuments or Coats ( figs. 36, int, and 757, 7). 
