15 



groove on the ventral side. Under the microscope the epidermis 

 of the glume is seen to be made up of elongated thick walled cells, 

 and twin cells which are more or less crescent shaped. (Fig. 7.) 

 The parench^-ma cells are roughly star shaped, a distinguishing 

 feature from the other cereals. 



The hairs at the apex of the grain are long and narrow, meas- 

 uring up to 250^4 in length and are about 20/u in diameter in the 

 middle, the base often tapering almost to a point. Other thick 

 walled hairs are often found which measure up to IOOai in length 

 and have a broad base measuring 20/i or less in diameter. These 

 hairs, however, are stiff while those found at the apex of the grain 

 are more or less wavy. 



In ground products the starch grains are the most characteris- 

 tic element, being polygonal in shape for the most part and 

 from 5 — S^t in diameter. Rounded aggregates, composed of from 

 few to many grains often occur. The spindle shaped grains 

 very often found are characteristic of oats. 



BUCKWHEAT. 



(Fagopyrum esculentum, Moench.) 



Buckwheat is occasionally found whole or ground in cattle and 



°J 



Fig. 8. Buckwheat. 

 (2) Starch grains. 



Figure 8 

 (1) Spongy parenchyma and (1) inner epidermis; 



chick foods. When whole the seed is sharply triangular, pointed, 

 and varies in color from gray brown to dark brown. In size it 

 ranges from 5 — 8m.m. in length and from 3 — 4m.m. in breadth. All 

 products are easily identified by the tissues of the spermoderm and 



