n8 



STUDIES IN SEEDS AND FRUITS 



of such a different order (Convolvulaceae) display the same 

 quality when impermeable. 



TABLE SHOWING THE USUAL INCREASE OF WEIGHT THROUGH THE 

 ABSORPTION OF WATER FROM THE AIR DISPLAYED BY IMPERMEABLE 

 SEEDS, EITHER AFTER BEING BARED OF THEIR COVERINGS OR AFTER 

 BEING CUT ACROSS IN THEIR COATS. (All are leguminous excepting 

 the two last.) 



The seeds in the foregoing list vary greatly in size and 

 weight, from those of Leucsena g/auca, which average only 

 0*8 of a grain, to those of Entada scandens, which average 

 400 grains. The samples of kernels used were generally 

 50 to 100 grains, but greater in the case of the large seeds. 

 The hygroscopic reaction is as far as possible excluded. It 

 will be inferred that it is not possible to strike an average 

 increase of weight for the bared kernels of impermeable 

 seeds when exposed to the air. Each kind of seed has its 

 own regime in this respect, which is influenced not only 

 by the relative dryness of the kernel, but also by the 

 amount of oil it contains. This probably explains the 

 small excess weight of the seeds of Adenanthera pavonina. 



