SCROPIIULARINEyE 



325 



seed, an easy process when the seed is properly covered with soil. 

 The hypocotyl elongates greatly meanwhile. 



Veronica serpyllifolia, L. (fig. 567). 



Ovules numerous, pendulous, horizontal, ascending and erect 

 from an elevated, knob- like axile placenta, anatropous ; micropyle 

 superior, horizontal or inferior, and next to the hilum. 



Capsule broadly obcordate, much compressed laterally and keeled, 

 glandular-pubescent on the keel, otherwise glabrous, two-celled, with 

 the septum in the narrow 

 way of the fruit, many- 

 seeded, dehiscing by four 

 valves when mature, 

 tipped with the slender 

 persistent style which is 

 much longer than the 

 apical notch. 



Seeds broadly oval- 

 oblong or obovate-oblong, 

 much compressed later- 

 ally, obtuse-edged, very 

 small and numerous, pale- 

 coloured, yellowish-white 

 just before maturity ; 



testa thin ; raphe and chalaza on one of the flattened faces ; funicle 

 very short ; hilum and micropyle basal. 



Endosperm in the mature seed copious, fleshy, whitish. 



Embryo small, straight, colourless, about three-fourths the length 

 of the endosperm ; cotyledons ovate, obtuse, entire, plano-convex, 

 lying in the broad way of the seed with their edges to the axis or 

 placenta ; radicle terete, obtuse, slightly longer than the cotyledons, 

 embedded in the endosperm near the hilum. 



Veronica salicifolia, Forst. 



Ovary as in V. arvensis. 



Capsule ovate or ovoid, laterally compressed, pubescent especially 

 towards the edges, two-celled, many-seeded, dehiscing for more than, 

 half its length into four valves, each of which is acute or subacumi- 

 nate and more or less conspicuously trinerved. 



Seed peltate, closely resembling that of V. arvensis. 



Endosperm copious, occupying almost the whole interior of the 

 seed, whitish. 



FIG. 567. Veronica serpyllifolia, x 40. 

 A, longitudinal section of seed. B, transverse 

 section of seed : M, micropyle ; E, embryo ; 

 P, endosperm; T, testa; Cs, cotyledons. 



