49 



THE SEED. 



endosperm. The starch in the plant takes the place of milk to 

 the colt, calf, or pig. The milk is secreted by the mother 

 animal; the starch was formed in the leaves of the mother plant 

 and deposited in the seed for future use of the seedling. 



As tlie water ram needs some water to move it, to enable it to 

 send some of the water liigher, so the young grass-plant throws 

 away, if m'c may use the expression, some of its substance to 

 enable it to organize tho remainder into roots and terminal bud. 

 During the growth of seeds and bulbs in the dark, the actual dry 

 weight is diminished, although the size may increase. 



Fig. 55.— Longitudinal section of tlio 

 grain of Indian corn ; c, tliin wall of the 

 ovary ; n, remains of the lower part of 

 the style, known as the " silk ;" /,s, base 

 of the grain; eg, cu; endosperm, which 

 feeds the young plant as it germinates ; 

 MC, 8.f. scutellum or cotyledon of embryo ; 

 c, its epidermis ; k, plumule or terminal 

 bud ; ir, (below), the main or primary 

 root ; U'f, the root sheath ; tc, (above) ad- 

 ventitious or secondary roots springing 

 from the first internode of the stem ; st, 

 tlie stem. Enlarged about six times. 

 (Sachs). 



WS 



ws 



ws 



Fig. 56.— Germination of Indian corn, 

 a and b, front and side views of the 

 embryo removed from the kernel; iv, the 

 primary root ; «•«, its root sheath. 



(Sachs). 



