16 iERMlNATlON OF THE SEED. CHAP. J. 



nished with a stem, and the plant is complete. 

 (PL IX. Fig. 3 and 4.) 



The above general remarks are founded on the 

 evidence of the following particular observations. 

 In a season the most favourable to vegetation, 

 Malpighi sowed some seeds of the Gourd. At the 

 end ef the first day the seeds were considerably 

 swoln, and the envelopes so much moistened that 

 a fluid oozed out of them when pressed with the 

 finger. A hole was also discoverable in the enve- 

 lopes at the summit of the seed, through which the 

 moisture seemed to be conveyed to the cotyledons, 

 that had already begun to assume the form of se- 

 minal leaves. At the end of the second day the 

 interior membrane seemed to be somewhat torn, 

 and the plantlet somewhat extended, exhibiting on 

 a transverse section taken about the middle, longi- 

 tudinal fibres and tracheae, as well as utricles, bark, 

 and pitli. The radicle was also distinctly visible. 

 At the end of the third day the exterior membrane 

 had become brownish, and its utricles more dis- 

 tended ; the radicle had burst its integuments ; 

 and the plumelet had begun to expand. At the 

 end of the fourth day the plantlet had perceptibly 

 augmented in size. The radicle was covered with 

 protuberances from which the lateral branches were 

 to issue ; and the interior envelope was somewhat 

 shrivelled, but still covering the seminal and other 

 leaves, in which the nerves were now perceptible. 



