254- DECOMPOSITE ORGANS. CHAP. I. 



the umbilical cord after having perforated the Testa 

 commence, there is distinguishable upon the outer 

 surface of the Subtesta a sort of scar or tubercle, 

 which Gsertner denominates the Chalaza, coinciding 

 with, or contiguous to, the hilum or external scar ; 

 but not always so, as it often happens that the um- 

 bilical cord, after penetrating the Testa, passes on 

 without ramifications to the opposite side of the 

 cavity, and there forms the Chalaza or internal scar, 

 as in the case of the Cherry. 



SUBSECTION II. 



Its parts. The Nucleus. The nucleus is that part of the 

 seed which is contained within the proper integu- 

 ments, consisting of the albumen with the vitellus, 

 when present, and embryo. 



ARTICLE 1. The Albumen. The albumen, a 

 term introduced by Grew, in his Anatomy of 

 Plants,* is an organ resembling in its consistence 

 the white of an egg, and forming in most cases the 

 exterior portion of the nucleus, but always separa- 

 ble from the interior or remaining portion. It was 

 Or secun- denominated by Malpighi the Secundince internee^- 

 ternseof anr ^ ^7 Ventenat the Perisperm^ because in many 

 Malpighi. seeds it invests the embryo ; and because the term 

 albumen is, in some measure, appropriated to che- 



* Book iv. chap. iii. -J- Opera Omnia. 



Tab. du Reg. Veg, vol. i. p. 4.Q1. 



