538 



ON SEEDLINGS 



Ji. 



Couroupita guianensis, Aubl. (fig. 347). 



Pistil syncarpous, superior ; ovary of five to seven carpels, many- 

 ovuled ; ovules campylotropous. 



Fruit subglobose, 

 coriaceous or almost 

 woody, many-seeded, 

 indehiscent. 



Seed large, villous, 

 transversely oblong, 

 -ji considerably flattened; 

 ' testa crustaceous by a 

 . Z.C' thickening and harden- 

 ing of the inner layer of 

 the outer coat, villous ; 

 hilum rather conspicu- 

 ous. 



Endosperm absent. 



Embryo curved or 

 rounded on itself, or 

 involute, rather com- 

 pressed, filling the whole 

 of the seed, and pinkish- 

 white ; cotyledons large, 

 oblong, contorted and 

 plicate with numerous 

 intricate folds ; radicle 

 very long, curved all 

 round the seed and en- 

 closing the cotyledons 

 in the centre, clavate, 

 obtuse. 



FIG. 847. Couroupita guianensis, x4. _ ,,. !,,,;- 



A, longitudinal section of seed. B, transverse LecythlS ZabUCajO, 



section of seed. H, hilum; B, radicle; C, coty- Aubl. (fig. 848). 

 ledons; OC, testa; 1C, tegmen. 



Primary root very 



long, stout, woody, giving off a few lateral fibres, and leaving the 

 seed at the opposite end to the plumule. 



Hypocotyl remaining in the seed, subterranean, large, fleshy, 

 colourless, forming an oblong mass conforming to the shape of the 

 cavity of the seed, and tapering to each end. 



Cotyledons probably absent. 



