14 



NATURE STUDY MADE EASY 



PARTS OF COMMON 

 BEAN 



find inside two lobes, or cotyledons, between which lies the 

 baby plant. These cotyledons are thick and fleshy, and are 

 meant to feed the baby plant until it has 

 green leaves and roots of its own, and can feed 

 itself. The plants with one cotyledon are 

 called monocotyledons; plants with two cotyle- 

 dons are called dicotyledons. 



Have you ever noticed how the lobes seem to shrivel up as soon 

 as the tiny green leaves appear? The nourishment has all been 

 used up by the baby plant. That is the way all dicotyledons com- 

 mence growth. 



Now, if we soak a grain of wheat in water and cause it to swell 

 and burst its outer coat, we will find, instead 

 of two fleshy cotyledons, a mass of starchy 



white substance all 

 contained in the one 

 cotyledon. This coty- 

 ledon is meant to feed 

 the baby plant until 

 it has green leaves 

 and can feed itself. 

 That is the way all 

 monocotyledons com- 



GERMINATION OF COMMON BEANS mence STOWth. 



Again, when we plant the bean plant, we notice it sends up 

 two tiny seed leaves which correspond to the two cotyledons. 



