ESCHSCHOLTZIA AND SCHIZOPETALON 



51 



the ground), whilst the continued growth of the arched hypo- 

 cotyl forces upwards the upper half, and tears asunder the 

 seed-coats at one end, and the cotyledons are then easily with- 

 drawn.' 



May not the narrowness of the cotyledons in Eschscholtzia 

 and their deep fission be due to a similar cause ? The seed is 

 slightly pyriform, and the radicle emerges from the narrower 

 end. It bursts through the soil in an arch, and instead of 



FIG. 97. Stages in the growth of seedling of Schizopetalon Walkeri, x 2. 



leaving the seed-coats in the earth as usual, carries them up 

 with it. Then the two arms of the cotyledons separate, widen 

 the orifice, and draw themselves out. 



This suggestion seems to be confirmed by the evidence of 

 Schizopetalon (fig. 97, A-D), one of the other few cases where 

 the cotyledons are bipartite. Here, also, the radicle emerges 

 through a comparatively small orifice, and the seed-coats, from 

 which the cotyledons seem to have some difficulty in freeing 

 themselves, are carried up by the hypocotyl, while eventually 



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