16 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [JANUARY 
After the fall of the seed the embryo continues to grow unless 
it becomes excessively dry. Fig. 48 shows a longitudinal section 
. of a seed that had been stored in a tin box in my laboratory for a 
year and a half at least, and possibly two and a half years. The 
seed has continued the development of the embryo in much the 
same manner that would have occurred if it had been planted, 
except that development has gone on at a much reduced rate. 
Many other seeds in the same box put out roots 3-4 inches long 
within 6-8 months. When planted the hypocotyl emerges in the 
spring following the winter in which the seeds were shed. As these 
seeds are often shed in California before the rainy season has 
begun, it is evident that this intraseminal development is a means | 
of enabling them to make the most of the growing season when it 
does come. It is not unlikely that in their native habitat this 
habit is equally useful. The seeds that did not continue growth 
appeared not to have done so on account of the attacks of a fungus 
that reduces the endosperm to a fine white dry powder. The 
embryos become yellow, shrunken, and waxy. The proportion of 
seeds failing to sprout was much the same in the box on my shelf as 
when they were properly planted. In fact, complete burial seems 
to be unfavorable to successful germination. 
Endosperm and seed 
During the development of the embryo important changes 
occur in the female gametophyte. The young gametophyte con- 
sists of comparatively large, very thin-walled cells with exceedingly 
scanty contents. They are multinucleate at the time of fertili- 
zation. By the time the proembryo has used up the food supplies 
of the archegonia and has begun to push down into the gameto- 
phyte, the cells immediately below have increased their cytoplasm 
markedly (figs. 34, 36, 37). The nuclei also increase in number. 
As the embryo advances the zone of food formation and storage 
precedes it. In the center of the endosperm there is left a narrow 
space more or less free from food storage. Toward this latter the 
embryos direct their course. The region of growth and storage 
of foods is below the archegonia. The upper region shrivels up 
and is crowded back into the apex of the developing seed. The 
