Lily-kin and Rose-kin 121 



After the dicotyledon has formed its roots and is 

 fairly started in life, its leaves may grow up the 

 stem singly or in pairs, and new ones may unfold 

 one at a time or two together. But whatever indi- 

 vidual eccentricities or family characteristics appear 

 in the arrangement of later foliage, the seed-leaves 

 of the rose's kin are always two, alike and opposite. 



But the lily's many kin have each, as the 

 ponderous term monocotyledon implies, but a 

 single seed-leaf. In the ripe grain- or grass-seed 

 it has a peculiar shield-like form, and it is wrapped 

 completely around the second leaf and the stem 

 that is to be. When the grain begins to sprout 

 the upper end of the cotyledon remains in the seed 

 and feeds on the nutriment which has been stored 

 there. But its lower part lengthens and pushes all 

 the rest of the little plant out into the world. 



This cotyledon's main purpose in life is to ab- 

 sorb the starches and other nourishing things 

 packed away in the grain, and not to digest crude 

 sap, as most leaves do. It has, in most in- 

 stances, no use for chlorophyll, and therefore it is 

 seldom green. 



We may find it near the roots of a young 

 grass-plant, shrivelled away, now that its work is 

 done, to a little horny, brownish scale. 



