: 
SEEDS OF THE BUCKWHEAT AND FLAX TYPE 59 
endosperm. Another feature to be noted 
has two cotyledons. 
is that the embryo 
In external characters they vary so much that their type in 
most cases can be determined only by an examination of their 
structure. In size, those most commonly 
grown in our region vary from the smallest 
of the Clover Seeds up to the largest of 
the Beans. They are kidney-shaped, glob- 
ular, oval, or flattened. Among them vari- 
ous colors such as red, purple, brown, 
yellow, green, mottled, and black occur. 
In identifying the different seeds of this 
type, especially those of the Bean family, 
size, shape, and color are important aids. 
In importance, the seeds of this type 
rank next to those of the Grass family. In 
Beans, Peas, and Peanuts, which are used 
directly as food, the value depends upon 
the protein, fats, and starches stored in the 
embryo. In the 
Cotton seed 
both embryo 
and seed coat 
MU ee tripe 
z 
= 
E) 
Fic. 68. — A, Squash 
seed sectioned longitudi- 
nally. 3B, Apple seed 
sectioned longitudinally. 
e,embryo. Bmuch more 
enlarged than A. 
Fic. 64. — Section through 
a Cotton seed showing the 
embryo with its much folded 
cotyledons, and the seed coat 
with the seed hairs. Enlarged 
about twice. 
are valuable structures. The embryo 
is rich in oil from which many useful 
products are made, while the hairs of 
the seed coat are the Cotton fibers 
of commerce. (Fig. 64.) The seeds 
of Clover and Alfalfa are important 
because the plants which bear them 
increase the soil fertility and are valu- 
able for hay and forage. 
Seeds of the Buckwheat and Tomato 
Type. — Some common seeds of this 
type are those of the Buckwheat, Beet, 
Tomato, Potato, Tobacco, Red Pep- 
per, Coffee, Flax, and Castor-oil plant. The type is common to 
a number of families, which contain some useful plants and many 
weeds, such as Nightshades, Spurges, Morning Glories, Bind- 
weeds, Dodders, Milkweeds, Docks, Smartweeds, and Corn Cockle. 
