SEED 219 



pericarp, and seed-coat. Note at the apex of the 

 fruit the remnant of the style, and the scar of attach- 

 ment at the base. 



ii. The endosperm, consisting of thin-walled par- 

 enchyma ; the cells contain polygonal starch-grains, 

 embedded in a matrix of protoplasm : in the peripheral 

 yellower portion of the endosperm the starch-grains are 

 more closely packed than in the central whiter portion. 



iii. The embryo, which is in close apposition to the 

 endosperm : the part which is in contact with it is the 

 scutellum ; it extends over the whole surface of 

 contact, and almost completely surrounds the body of the 

 embryo itself. Note the central attachment of the scutel- 

 lum to the body of the embryo ; the vascular bundles, 

 which form a connection through it ; the epithelium of 

 peculiar structure, which faces the endosperm. 



The body of the embryo consists of 



a. An apical bud, with several sheathing leaves, 

 which surround the apical cone. 



I. A radicle, having similar arrangement of the 

 meristem to that of the older root (compare p. 183). 

 Outside the radicle, and continuous with the root-cap, is 

 a root-sheath, or coleorhiza : note that the body of the 

 radicle is covered externally by a clearly marked series 

 of cells which gives rise to the piliferous layer, and 

 being enclosed by the coleorhiza, it is not continuous 

 with the superficial epidermis of the shoot. 



IV. For comparison, examine the " stone," or seed, 

 of the Date. Distinguish the basal end, at which the 

 remains of the funicle may still be seen, from the upper 

 more or less pointed end of the anatropous ovule : note 

 an irregular longitudinal fissure running up one side 



