58 WRIGHT : THE GENUS DIOSPYROS 



raised from seed obtained from cultivated trees in India and 

 Ceylon and from the jungle. The delayed epicotyledonary 

 development is characteristic only of those species which 

 have normal persistent cotyledons. It is also to be noticed 

 that in all these cases the primary epicotyledonary axis, i.e., 

 axis between cotyledonary node and first epicotyl leaf, is very 

 short, and that the first two leaves on this axis never form 

 an opposite pair, bat are always arranged alternately, and are 

 speedily followed by many others disposed in a similar 

 way. 



The majority of our Ceylon Diospyros species exhibit a 

 curious mode of development, and a detailed account of 

 seedlings of D. quaesita is now given, commencing at the stage 

 of the strongly arched hypocotyl, when the testa, endosperm, 

 and cotyledons are still connected with the hypocotyl and 

 partially covered with soil. At this stage the testa splits near 

 the micropyle, and the gap thus formed gradually extends 

 along each side of the seed to a distance of about 1 cm. 

 The chalazal end and often the greater part of the seed is 

 still below the surface of the soil. In consequence of the 

 strain set up by the rapidly growing hypocotyl the sessile 

 cotyledons now become detached and the hypocotyl frees 

 itself from the confines of the seed, carrying the enhanced 

 epicotyledonary leaves at its apex. The cotyledons are left 

 behind surrounded by the bulky endosperm, and from the 

 moment of their detachment the young seedling receives no 

 further nutritive substances from the endosperm. At this 

 stage there is a large quantity of endosperm, and this, together 

 with the whole of the reserve materials contained in the 

 parenchyma of the cotyledons, is wasted. In consequence of 

 the detachment of the cotyledons and the enhanced develop- 

 ment of the epicotyledonary leaves a large number of the 

 seedlings die. This is brought about by the death and 

 decomposition of the cells of the detached cotyledons and 

 the endosperm, which in time leads to a diseased condition 

 of the apex of the epicotyledonury axis. It is therefore 

 highly desirable to apply artificial pressure and crack the 



