<884 CHANGES SUCCEEDING IMPREGNATION. CHAP. VIII. 



a perforation, which originating at the sear, and run- 

 ning a considerable way along the back of the seed, 

 seems to be the passage through which the nutri- 

 tious fluid is conveyed from the umbilicus into the 

 interior of the seed. If the radicle is not attached 

 to the testa at the extremity of this perforation, it 

 , is at least turned towards it. 



On the 20th, when the nucleus was' still about one 

 fourth of an inch in diameter, and nearly globular, the 

 embryo occupied about one half the cavity. The 

 lobes were now approaching, and the radicle, with 

 its integument, was seen projecting in the form of a 

 conical protuberance from their point of union. The 

 plumelet was not yet visible. 



On the 22d, when the nucleus measured about 

 one third of an inch, the cotyledons occupied al- 

 most the whole of the cavity. The lobes were nearly 

 united; and the radicle, with its integument which 

 projected about ^V of an inch in the form of a conical 

 protuberance, was curved in the line of the cir- 

 cumference of the lobes. The plumelet was now 

 also discernible, split into several divisions at the 

 top and lodged between the lobes, but forming a 

 sort of cavity in one of them of about ~ of an inch in 

 length. 



On the 25th, when the seed had attained to its 

 full size, the lobes were completely united ; and the 

 embryo occupied the whole of the cavity of the 

 envelope ; the radicle measuring one eighth of an 

 inch, and the plumelet T v 



