212 ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY OF PLANTS. 



22. The pome is composed of a fine but double epi- 

 dermis, or, in other words, of two skins, enclosing a soft 

 and fleshy pulp, with bundles of longitudinal fibres 

 passing through it, contiguous to, and in the direction of 

 its longitudinal axis. 



23. Berries are composed of a very fine epidermis, 

 enclosing a soft and juicy pulp. 



24. The scales of the strobile are composed of a tough 

 and leathery epidermis, enclosing a spongy but often 

 highly indurated pulp, interspersed with longitudinal 

 fibres that pervade also the axis. 



OF THE SEED. 



25. In the Elements and Language of Botany we 

 have mentioned the nominal divisions of a seed, but it 

 remains for us now to detail their structure and functions 

 in an anatomical and physiological view. 



The structure and properties of the seed of plants, lias famished 

 an extensive field for investigation and experiment. The celebrated 

 Gcertner, hag probably, deduced the most correct inferences, many 

 of which, if not all, agree with the few observations we have to 

 make upon the subject. 



26. In the present place, seeds may be conveniently 

 divided into two principal parts ; viz. the integuments 

 and nucleus, or embryo and its envelope. 



The first will include the umbWical rorrf, A.li/m and setd coats ; 

 and the second, the albumen, vitellus, cotyltdon, radicle and /,/wi. l,t. 



