SAPINDACE^E 361 



Endosperm, from the earliest stages till it is wholly absorbed, 

 thin, watery, or jelly-like. (See Linn. Journ. xxii. 399, fig. 

 133.) 



Embryo originating in a short tubular prolongation near the 

 micropyle, and at first straight, with an extremely short, turbinate 

 radicle, and ovate, obtuse, closely adpressed cotyledons. It then 

 continues to grow along the lower side of the seed, close to the 

 testa, and, the outline of the seed being curved, the embryo gradually 

 curves also. The cotyledons are now lanceolate or oblong-lanceo- 

 late. When the cotyledons have reached the upper and narrow 

 end of the seed they curve rather suddenly downwards. This is 

 continued until the tips reach the radicle, leaving the front and upper 

 part of the seed under the chalaza empty except for the endosperm. 

 The embryo is now a considerable size, with an elongated radicle 

 and oblong, obtuse cotyledons. The next stage is characterised by 

 a second curving of the cotyledons, and it depends whether the latter 

 now curve inwards or outwards, as to the form the embryo shall 

 ultimately assume. If they curve inwards the mature embryo will 

 be circinate. If they now curve outwards the mature embryo will 

 be transversely twice folded (conduplicate, ' Genera Plantarum '), 

 and this is the commoner form. 



In this case the tips of the cotyledons curve outwards and 

 upwards to the chalaza. The embryo enlarges considerably after 

 this, and the double portion of the cotyledons is now pushed into 

 the centre of the seed, with the radicle on the lower side and the 

 middle of the cotyledons on the upper side abutting against the 

 chalaza, while the tips, still continuing to elongate, grow outward 

 and upwards, reaching as far as the lower end of the chalaza. 



In August the embryo is well formed, but the endosperm not 

 yet all absorbed. 



Seedling (fig. 252). 



Primary root tapering, flexuous, rather stout, with a few lateral 

 rootlets. 



Hypocotyl 3-4 cm. long, 1-5 mm. broad (because of its being 

 slightly compressed), glabrous, firm, reddish-brown. 



Cotyledons two, often three (when two, one of them is fre- 

 quently split), sessile, 8'5-5 cm. long, about 8 mm. broad, strap- 

 shaped, obtuse, entire, obscurely trinerved, glabrous, pale green, 

 rather persistent. 



Stem soft, but soon becoming woody, erect, terete, glabrous, pale 

 or brownish-green; 1st internode 2-3'5 cm. long; 2nd 1*5-2 cm. ; 

 3rd 6-8 mm. 



