140 SEEDS. 



(71) Stavesacre Seeds. 



The seeds of Delphinium Staphisagria, Linn. (N.O, Ranuncu- 

 lacese). 



The seeds are provided with a dark brown coat, which is 

 marked with reticulations and minute prominences. 



In the seed-coat three very distinct layers can be distin- 

 guished. 



The outer layer (te) is composed of a single row of brown 

 cells, varying very much in dimensions as well as in shape. All 

 the walls of these cells are strongly thickened, the outer more 

 so than the radial or inner. The outer wall is also cha- 

 racterised by the ridges or tubercles that project from it. In 

 surface view the cells are polygonal or irregular in shape, one 

 side being sometimes rounded. 



The middle layer (tm] is made up of several rows of polygonal, 

 flattened cells with thin, smooth, straight or slightly wavy 

 walls. 



The inner layer (ti) consists of a single layer of cubical cells, 

 with slightly thickened walls. In surface view these cells are 

 very characteristic in appearance. They are polygonal, and all 

 elongated in the same directions ; their walls exhibit remark- 

 able wrinkles, which take the form of very distinct linear 

 projections. 



The cells of the endosperm are polygonal and isodiametric ; 

 they contain granular proteid matter and fixed oil. 



In the powdered seeds occasional fragments of vessels from 

 the raphe may be found. 



The diagnostic characters of powdered stavesacre seeds are : 



(a) The characteristic cells of the epidermis. 



(b) The elongated, wrinkled cells of the inner layer. 



(c) The endosperm cells with oily contents. 



