RUBIACE^E 75 



hollowed on the ventral aspect ; testa thin, membranous ; hilum on 

 the middle of the concave ventral aspect. 



Endosperm abundant, horny. 



Embryo curved, following the convexity of the hollow with 

 the greater part of the endosperm towards the periphery, and 

 only a thin layer between it and the inner or ventral . aspect of the 

 seed, colourless, and three-quarters the length of the seed ; coty- 

 ledons linear, obtuse ; radicle inferior, curved round nearly but not 

 quite to the edge of the concavity. 



FIG. 441. Galium saccharatum. A, longitudinal section of seed, x 8 ; 

 c, cotyledons ; r, radicle. B, transverse section of seed, x 8 : c, coty- 

 ledons, C, germinating seedling, x 4. 



Seedling (fig. 442). 



Primary root long, tapering, fibrous, annual, yellow with red- 

 dish lateral rootlets. 



Hypocotyl erect, terete, scabrid with short deflexed prickles, pale 

 green, about T85 cm. long. 



Cotyledons linear, obtuse, minutely emarginate, margin with 

 minute deflexed prickles, surface glabrous, tapered to the base, 2-1 cm. 

 long, 4 mm. wide. Three to five buds are ultimately developed in 

 the axils of the cotyledons. 



Stem herbaceous, annual, erect, ultimately climbing by means 

 of the minute prickles, quadrangular, with minute deflexed prickles 



