SEEDS. 83 



for our purpose. As the pupil advances farther in his botanical studies, he will 

 learn much more about them, as well as about fruits and flowers, in the Lessons 

 in Botany, and other works. 



254. A seed consists of its Ooats and its Kernel. Besides the true seed-coats, 

 which are those of the ovule, an outer loose covering, generally an imperfect one, 

 is occasionally superadded while the seed is growing. This.is called an AriL 

 Mace is the aril of the nutmeg. The scarlet pulpy covering of the seeds of the 

 Strawberry-tree and the Staff-tree or Waxwork is also an aril. 



255. The Seed-Coats are commonly two, an outer and an inner; the latter gen- 

 erally thin and delicate. The outer coat is sometimes close 'and even, and fitted to 



the kernel, as in Morning-Glory (Fig. 227) ; some- 

 times it is furnished with a tuft of long hairs, as in 

 Milkweed (Fig. 229), or else is covered witli long 

 woolly hairs, as in the Cotton-plant, where they 

 form that most useful' material, Cotton-wool. In 

 some cases the outer coat is extended into a 

 thin border or wing, as in the Trumpet-Creeper 

 (Fig. 228). Catalpa-seeds have a fringe-like wing 

 or tuft at each end. The seeds of Pines are 

 winged at one end (Fig. 226). All these tufts 

 and wings are contrivances for i-endering such seeds buoyant, so that, when shed, 

 they ma}' be dispersed by the wind. Thistle-down, and the like, is a similar 'con- 

 trivance on tlie fruit or akene. 



256. The seed is often supported by a stalk of its own, the Seed-stalk. Where 

 the seed separates, it leaves a mark, called the Scar or Hiliim. This is conspicu- 

 ous in a bean and a pea, and is remarkably large in a horsechestnut 



257. The Kernel is the whole body of the seed within the coats. It consists of 

 the Embryo, and of the Albumen, when there is any. 



258. The Albuinen is a stock of prepared food, for the embryo to live upon at the 

 outset, in those cases where it has not a similar supply laid up in its cotyledons 

 (32 - 35, 45). In Fig. 17, 44, and 49, the seeds have albumen. In Fig. 25, 32, 40, 

 and 42, tliey have none, but the whole kernel consists of 



259. The Emhvyo, or rudimentary plantlet in miniature, the body in the seed 

 which grows. To this the seed, the fruit, and the blossom are all subservient. The 

 albumen of the seed, when there is any, is intended to nourish the embryo when it 



