134 



THE SEED 



Forms of the Embryo. — The eml)ryo should in all cases be dissected 

 from the contiguous parts and the relations of its parts to one another 

 made out. It may be straight, variously curved, crumpled (Fig. 411), 

 or variously folded. In the latter condition the radicle may be brought 

 into juxtaposition with the edges of the cotyledons (Accumbent, Fig. 

 413) or with the face of one of them (Incumbent, Fig. 412), One 

 cotyledon may enwrap the other (Fig. 414). When a single cotyledon 

 partly encloses the greater portion of the remainder of the embryo 

 it is sometimes called the Scutellum (Fig. 415). Some of the terms 

 applicable to the consistency of the albumin are also applicable to that 

 of the cotvledons. 



Fig. 407. Eccentric curved embryo of Galium. 408. Peripheral simply curved embryo of Bosia. 409. 

 Peripheral circinately curved embryo of ^cAj/raniAes. 410. Circinately coiled embrj'o. 411. Crumpled 

 embryo of Suaeda. 412. Incumbent radicle of Calepina. 413. Accumbent radicle of Megacarpaea. 

 414. Embryo of Dryobolanops, one cotyledon enwrapping the others. 415. Embryo of barley with 

 scutellum (s). 



The Taste. — Finally, the pharmacognosist will find it of importance 

 in the case of seeds possessing a characteristic taste to inform himself 

 as to the part, if any, to which such taste is restricted. 



Reproduction Completed. — With the production of the seed, containing 

 a distinct living individual separated from the parent and fitted for 

 independent existence, reproduction can strictly be considered as com- 

 pleted, although the progeny is still in its infancy and its form not yet 

 perfect. 



Similarity of the Seed to the Bud. — The analogy between the seed and 

 the bud is apparent. Each consists of one or more vegetative units 

 ready to develop under proper conditions into a perfect semblance of 

 the parent, and each is provided with a store of prepared nourishment 



