202 



STUDIES IN SEEDS AND FRUITS 



Entada scandens. 



(Weight of resting seed 400 grains. Shrinking and swelling ratio 2*5, taking the 

 weight of the entire seed as i. Pr. =pre-resting seed ; R. = resting seed ; and Sw. =the 

 seed swollen for germination. ) 



We will commence with the comparison of the regimes 

 of two types of leguminous seeds, that of Guilandina honducella 

 and that of Faha vulgaris (Broad Bean), the first with im- 

 permeable, the last with permeable coverings. Employing 

 the data given in the table, we get the following results : — 



Comparison of the Shrinking and Swelling Regimes of an 

 Impermeable and a Permeable Leguminous Seed, taking the 

 Weight of the Pre-resting Seed as 100. 



Note that the pre-resting seed is the soft seed of the full-grown moist fruit. 



Illustrations We here see that whilst in both seeds the coats of the 



oftheshni^^- Swelling seed fail to regain the water lost in the shrinking 



ingand process and the kernel ultimately holds more water than 



swelling .,11., • 1 • • 1- 



seed. It held in the pre-resting state, there is an important dis- 



