SEED. 55 



in the Embryo), there may be present more cotyledons 

 than two, as in some Cruciferse, etc. ; the two may be 

 joined together and inseparable, as in Ebena Cretica ; 

 one may be very large, and the other in a rudimentary 

 state, as in Sorocea ; and often in the Common Nettle, 

 according to Meyen, and always in Chenopodium viride, 

 etc. etc. ; or there may be no cotyledons at all, as in 

 Cyclamen. 



301. In some Grasses, as Triticum, the rudimentary 

 state of a second cotyledon is to be seen ; and it has 

 been asked by a writer, whether in monocotyledons ge- 

 nerally a second cotyledonary body is not evolved con- 

 temporaneously with the other, but which by a diver- 

 sion of powers from its further development to some- 

 thing else, remains hidden or behind ? He himself 

 answers it in the negative in regard to the greater 

 number of Endogenous plants. 



302. On separating the cotyledons of the Bean, 

 (fig. 49), we observe a little body which we can divide, 

 as it were, into two parts ; a somewhat curved tapering 

 body (V), the radicle, and a more expanded flattened 

 one at the end of it (c), the plumula. 



303. The radicle (b), always points towards what is 

 termed the micropyle, so that without opening a seed, 

 if we can find the micropyle, we know the position of the 

 radicle of the embryo. 



304. This micropyle exists as a minute opening on 

 the testa of the seed, and has its origin in most cases 

 in the altered condition of the foramen of the ovule ; so 

 that again if we can find the foramen in the ovule, we 

 know to where the radicle of its embryo will point. 



305. If we examined such an embryo in the young 

 state, after it has reached its second stage of develop- 

 ment, we should find the embryo existing in the form 

 of a somewhat globular body just commencing to alter 

 its shape ; it extends itself somewhat in length so as to 

 form an axis, the lower end of which points towards the 

 micropyle, and the upper towards the chalaza, and it 

 now begins to form the cotyledons and radicle ; the co- 



