DODDER 



97 



and, as many flowers are produced, the seed produc- 

 tion is enormous. 



" The seeds are minute, light colored, often tinged 

 with green or purple, globular or irregularly rounded, 

 the surface very finely roughened (Fig. i6). Their 

 form and appearance should permit their easy detedlion 

 among alfalfa seeds, which are larger (Fig. 17). 



"The development of the plant is peculiar. The 

 seeds germinate in the ground, the young stems swing- 



FIG. 16 — DODDER SEEDS 



A, showing a group of seeds, their 

 comparative form and relative 

 size, enlarged. 5, agroupshow- 

 " ing the natural size. C, the em- 

 bryo removed from the seed, 

 showing the form it commonly 

 assumes, i>, a section of a seed, 

 showing the manner in which 

 the embryo lies imbedded in the 

 endosperm. 



FIG. 17 — ALFALFA SEEDS 



A^ a group showing the side view. 

 By the edge view, with scar. C, 

 a group of natural size. D, the 

 embryo. 



ing from side to side until a stem of the alfalfa is 

 found, about which they at once twine; the roots then 

 die. If no such stem is found the young dodder plant 

 perishes, owing to its inability to take nourishment 

 from soil-food. The plant is an annual, starting anew 

 from the seed each year." 



Fig. 18 shows a group of red clover seeds.. A, side 

 view. B, edge view, presenting the scar. C, seeds of 

 natural size. Fig. 19 shows white clover seeds. A, 

 showing the side-view forms. B, edge view, with scar. 



