CHAPTER XIII. THE FRUIT AND SEED. II9 



In albuminous seeds the amount of albumen differs very 

 widely, and in describing it, it is usual to compare its quantity 

 with that of the embryo. If much greater it is copious, or 

 abundant ; if about the same, equal ; and if comparatively small 

 in quantity, scanty. 



The texture of the albumen differs, also, in different seeds. 

 In some, like the Wheat and Buckwheat, it is farinaceous, or 

 mealy ; in the seeds of Barberry and Cocoanut, it is of a denser 

 consistency, yet readily cut with a knife, and is called fleshy ; 

 in some, as the seeds of Poppy and Bloodroot, it is oily ; in 

 the seeds of Nux vomica and many others it is horny ; in others 

 still, as that of the Ivory Palm, it is so exceedingly hard as to 

 be appropriately called bony ; and in the seed of the Nutmeg, 

 since it has an uneven or marbled appearance, and is more or 

 less fissured transversely, it is called ruminated. 



Fig. 350. Fig. 351. Fig. 352. 



Fig. 350. — Seed of Violet, showing straight embryo buried in the albumen. Magnified. 



Fig. 351. — Seed of Nux vomica, with one side removed, showing position of embryo. 

 About natural size. 



Fig. 352. — Seed of Lychnis dioica, showing embryo curved around the albumen. 

 Magnified. 



The Embryo. This is the essential part of the seed ; it is 

 the young plant which is the end and purpose of the entire 

 flower and fruit ; it is the finished product of the reproductive 

 process. 



In cxalbutninous seeds it is usually well developed, while in 

 albuminous ones it is apt to be smaller, and have its parts less 

 perfectly formed, but this general rule has many exceptions. 



As respects the position of the embryo in the seed, it has 

 already been noted that the radicle always points to the micro- 

 pyle. As regards its position with reference to the albumen, this 

 varies greatly in different seeds. In the seed of the Violet, Fig. 

 350, it is straight, and buried in the albumen. This is true, also, 



