168 THE NATURE AND WORK OF PLANTS 



a. Its general shape. Sketch. 



b. The scutellum, or absorbing organ, the 



part which lies under the embryo and 

 in contact with the endosperm. If ger- 

 minated seeds are examined, this organ 

 will be seen to have enlarged and taken 

 up some of the endosperm, as in the date 

 or cocoanut. It has the power of se- 

 creting digestive fluids, which dissolve 

 starch and convert it into sugar. The 

 action of this fluid on the endosperm 

 soon causes it to become soft, and then 

 milky fluid. 



c. The young plantlet shows an unrolling 



leaflet, a short stem, and a main root. 

 Describe the action of these organs in 

 germination. Note the formation of 

 young roots above the base of the main 

 roots. These are the stilt roots, which 

 are so prominent on the full-grown 

 plant (§ 29). 



IV. Endurance of the seeds. 



Put a number of sound grains into a covered 

 vessel full of water, set on the stove, and 



