226 PRACTICAL BOTANY 



which soon turn green, and expand as assimilating 

 leaves, with the plumule seated between them. 



5. The plumule develops leaves, which expand in 

 succession. 



6. The radicle has meanwhile elongated, and produced 

 lateral roots. 



Notice that when the young root is removed from 

 the soil many particles adhere to it, especially at some 

 distance from the apex : these are held by the root- 

 hairs which attach themselves closely to the particles 

 of soil. 



(1) With the above compare seedlings of Ricinus in 

 various stages of germination : in the main features the 

 results are the same, but note especially that the 

 endosperm remains for a long period in close connec- 

 tion with the cotyledons, and that as the seedling grows 

 that tissue loses its firmness and density, owing to the 

 abstraction of the nutritive substances stored in it, and 

 their transfer through the cotyledons to the seedling. 



(c) It will be found useful to compare the germina- 

 tion of other seeds also, e.y. the Broad Bean, Kidney 

 Bean, Cucumber or Gourd, &c. 



The internal changes accompanying the process of germina- 

 tion, and more especially the redistribution of the reserve 

 materials stored in the embryo, may be studied by cutting 

 sections of the seedling at different stages of the process, and 

 comparing the cell-contents in the corresponding tissues. Note 

 especially the corrosion of the starch -grains, in those cases where 

 starch is stored in the seed. 



