GEKANIACEvE 299 



direction of the sun when the seed is held in its natural 

 position. 



The result is that one longitudinal half of each cotyledon 

 grows faster than the other, and grows over, enclosing the 

 smaller half of the other, so that when the embryo is fully 

 grown, a transverse section shows each of the cotyledons 

 coiled in the shape of the letter s, but the small coil of each 

 is inserted in the large coil of the other, thus 



The coils are, however, closely drawn together so as to fill the 

 seed compactly, and the radicle is incumbent on the back of 

 the cotyledons, but on the ventral face of the seed ; there is a 

 small notch or cavity in the centre of the bundle or coil at its 

 lower end into which the rather prominent chalaza fits. 

 When flattened out the cotyledons are transversely oblong 

 or reniform, slightly sinuate at the apex, with the midrib 

 excurrent, forming a small tooth, and five nerves radiating 

 from the base of the lamina and becoming slightly incurved. 

 The base is deeply cordate, and the deep green radicle on 

 the ventral aspect points towards the base of the ovary. 

 The two halves of the cotyledons are unequal, the smaller 

 one occupying the interior of the coil. The cotyledons are 

 even already petiolate, and examination shows that this is 

 necessary in order to allow of their becoming convolute. The 

 inner or upper faces of the cotyledons are always applied to 

 one another, but the coils or smaller enfolded half of each 

 prevents the two midribs from coming in contact as they 

 would do if the cotyledons were flat. Hence the necessity 

 for petioles while yet in the seed. Other species agreeing 

 with G. Wallichianum in the form of the embryo are G. 

 pratense, G. sylvaticum, G. sanguineum, and G. bohemicum. 

 It is more than probable that none of the species differ very 

 widely from the type. There seems to be, however, a varia- 

 tion in the insertion of the ovule, for whereas G. Wallichianum 

 has the hilum on the ventral face a little above the middle, 



