THE EMBRYO AND SEEDLING 127 



the middle region, consisting of rapidly elongating cells 

 with very little protoplasm (Fig. 68) . The upper region 

 ceases to function as soon as it has absorbed and passed 

 on the nutritive materials stored above it. The middle 

 region, which is called the "suspensor," elongates 





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 ^>: O ^ '^ "^ ?* ® -,.. ^^ 



Fig. 67. — Stangeria paradoxa: early wall formation in embryo. 

 Highly magnified. 



enormously, so that it becomes coiled and twisted and 

 packed in the disorganizing upper part of the endosperm. 

 This suspensor, which is the longest known in plants, 

 when stretched out as far as it can be stretched from its 

 packed and cramped condition reaches a length of two 

 or even three inches. The lower region, below the 

 suspensor, gives rise to the root, stem, cotyledons, and 



