HOW A PLANT GETS OUT OF THE SEED. 



9. BUCKWHEAT. The so called seed is not a seed but is made 

 up of a pod with the seed closely united to the pod. This union 

 is not as close as in the case of corn. It is not, however, a true 

 pod. Buckwheat kernels are usually brownish in color, though 

 some are gray. In our common buckwheat the kernel has three 



sharp ridges running from 

 the broad base to the point- 

 ed tip. The sides are some- 

 what similar. In some 

 cases you may be able to 

 see three somewhat re- 

 curved affairs. Let us now 

 remove the brown cover- 

 ing; underneath it you will 

 observe a lighter colored 

 part, the seed-ccat. A 

 small, yellowish brown, 

 circular spot with a darker 

 center occurs where the 

 seed was attached to the 

 brown hull. We will now cut the buckwheat kernels across near 

 the base. Fig. 16. You will observe that most of the seed is 

 made up of a white, mealy substance the nourishing material 



Figure 15. 



Buckwheat in process of germinating:, r radi- 

 cie pushirg its way out. The Cotyiedons or 

 seed leaves ">t. still within coat. 



cot.. 



Figure 16. 



Cross-section buckwheat, the dotted 

 portion being endosperm or albumen 

 which is food for the growing embryo 

 which is folded inside. 



Figure 17. 



Embryo of Buckwheat showing 

 manner of folding in seed. 



consisting largely of starch for the young growing embryo. This 

 is the endosperm. In this white mealy substance is a small, 

 slender somewhat folded, thread-like body, the embryo. 

 The seed leaves are very thin and folded and hence have 

 the appearance of being thread-like in cross-section. Fig. 17. 



