552 



ON SEEDLINGS 



Endosperm absent. 



Embryo very large, straight, spirally convolute, colourless, 

 occupying the whole interior of the seed ; cotyledons broad, spirally 

 convolute, unequally auricled, varying in the manner of folding in 

 different seeds, one half of each cotyledon being turned inwards, the 

 other half round the exterior of the coil and next to the testa, un- 

 equal-sided, but when spread out flat broadly oblong, obtuse, entire, 

 with the exception of the basal auricles, or somewhat emarginate ; 

 larger auricle external to the coil ; smaller one rolled up internally ; 

 radicle about half the length of the cotyledons, or a little more, 

 fusiform and thinnest at the upper end which is covered with the 

 cotyledons, tapered to a very obtuse point, and extending about 

 1-1*6 mm. beyond the cotyledons, and lying in the basal and pointed 

 end of the seed. 



Larger half of the cotyledon 4-5-5-5 mm. long ; smaller one 

 3-25-4-5 mm. long ; together 3-4-5 mm. wide. Radicle 3-3-5 mm. 

 long. 



Germination. Immediately, or soon after the radicle makes its 

 appearance, the testa is split longitudinally into two valves by the 

 energy of the swelling cotyledons . Root-hairs 

 are already present from the base of the 

 hypocotyl downwards. When not very deeply 

 buried, the testa is carried up by the elongat - 

 ing hypocotyl. 



Seedling (fig. 855). 



Hypocotyl long, erect, subquadrangular, 

 glabrous, 2-5-3 cm. long, light green or 

 colourless. 



Cotyledons transversely oblong, emargi- 

 nate, glabrous, with short flattened petioles, 

 dark green, 1-1*3 cm. long including the 

 short petioles, 1'4-1'55 cm. wide, with a 

 prominent midrib and two lateral nerves 

 running parallel to the sides, meeting the 

 midrib at the apex, also two faint nerves 

 between these and the midrib. 



Stem herbaceous, ultimately becoming 

 woody, erect, square, with winged edges, 

 glabrous, pale green ; 1st internode 5-15 

 mm. long. 



Leaves linear-lanceolate, cuneate at the base, shortly petiolate, 

 glabrous, light green ; pinnatinerved. 



FIG. 855. 



Punica Granatum. 

 Nat. size. 



