54 THE ALBUMEN. [BOOK i. 



still called the nucleus ; and consists either of albumen and 

 embryo, or of the latter only. 



The albumen (perispermium, Juss. ; endospermium, Rich. ; 

 medulla seminis, Jungius; secundina internee, Malpighi) 

 (Plate VI. fig. 5. a, 1. 0, 9. a, &c.), when present, is a body 

 inclosing the embryo, and interposed between it and the 

 integuments of the seed when there are any : it is of dif- 

 ferent degrees of hardness, varying from fleshy to bony, or 

 even stony, as in some palms. It is in all cases destitute of 

 vascularity, and has been usually considered as the amnios 

 in an indurated state: but Brown is of opinion that it is 

 formed by a deposition or secretion of granular matter in 

 the cellules of the amnios, or in those of the nucleus itself. 



The albumen is often absent, is frequently much smaller 

 than the embryo, but is also occasionally of much greater 

 size. This is particularly the case in monocotyledons, in 

 some of which the embryo scarcely weighs a few grains, 

 while the albumen weighs many ounces, as in the cocoa-nut. 

 It is almost always solid, but in Anonads and Nutmegs it is 

 perforated in every direction by dry cellular tissue, which 

 appears to orginate in the remains of the nucleus in which 

 the albumen has been deposited : in this state it is said to be 

 ruminated. 



The best account of albumen yet published, is that of 

 Schleiden andVogel, of which the following is the substance: 



1. On the Formation of Albumen. The essential parts of 

 the ovule are the nucleus and embryo sac, which are never 

 absent. In the embryo sac, a portion of cellular tissue is 

 often developed and again absorbed; this is MirbePs quartine. 

 In seeking for albumen, the positions in which it might be 

 expected to be found are, 1, in the integuments, 2, the nucleus, 

 3, the embryo-sac, 4, the region of the chalaza. It is, how- 

 ever, never found in the integuments, but in all other parts. 

 In Monocotyledons, albumen is mostly found in the embryo- 

 sac, reducing the walls of the nucleus, by pressure, to a thin 

 membrane. It is difficult to say whether the membrana 

 interna of the ripe seed is formed from the integumentum 

 iiiternum of the ovule, from the membrana nuclei, or from 



