CHAP, xvn SEED REPRODUCTION 81 



CHAPTER XVII 



SEED REPRODUCTION 



IN our earliest work we examined carefully a number of 

 different seeds and learned that a seed must contain an 

 embryo or rudimentary plantlet showing, usually, distinct 

 stem- and leaf-portions, with a provision, also, for the pro- 

 duction of a root or roots. 



We know, also, that flowers precede fruits and that the 

 fruits contain seeds, in the ordinary plants. Consequently 

 we shall first consider various kinds of flowers as well as 

 matters pertaining to them and then fruits, in order to study 

 the important details of reproduction by seeds and the phe- 

 nomena attending it. 



