DIVISION I. 



ANGIOSPERMS OR HIGHER FLOWERING PLANTS 



CHAPTER I. 



SEED. GERMINATION. FORM OF THE ESTABLISHED 



PLANT. 



The Higher Plants are called Seed-Plants, because they bear Seeds. 

 The Seed is a detachable part of the parent Plant, which contains the 

 germ of a new individual. When n^ature, it is usually hard and dry. 

 It can stand drying up without losing its vitality. In this state it 

 may remain dormant for a considerable period, often for years, and 

 may withstand conditions which would be unfavourable for active 

 Hfe, such as extremes of heat and cold. But when the conditions are 

 favourable, the active life of the germ, which has been in a state of 

 suspense in the dry seed, may be resumed. The test of vitality of the 

 seed is whether or not it will germinate when exposed to suitable 

 conditions. 



If a dry seed of a Bean, such as may be bought in a seedsman's shop, 

 be dissected, its parts may be easily recognised. But the dissection 

 will be more readily carried out if it be soaked in water for twenty-four 

 hours. The effect of the soaking will be that it will increase in bulk 

 and in weight. The swelling is due to the imbibition of water, which 

 is a general property of organised bodies. A distinction must be 

 drawn between such swelling and growth. Swelling by imbibition 

 is a reversible process, and is not a manifestation of life<;|]^ dead 

 bearTwjTr ^ell equjjly wTSTT lmng^one^ If either be driecl again, 

 irwill shrmk back to its originaTBuIk. Growth, on the other hand, is a 

 result of vital activity. It involves, as we shall see in Chapter VIII., 



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