MANGEL WURZEL OR FIELD BEET 353 



equally deserves the name from the fact that it keeps well until 

 late spring and early summer, when turnips and swedes have 

 been consumed and grass and other forage crops are scarce. 

 Seed and Germination. — The parts known in commerce as 

 mangel ' seeds ' are in reality fruits, two or three of which are 

 often joined together. Each fruit contains a single albuminous 

 seed. 



Fig. iio. — 4. Seedling mangel ; 5 and 6. Older examples of the same, a Root ; i coty- 

 ledons ;-c hypocotyl ; d first foliage-leaves of plumule. 



The seed is kidney- shaped, about the size of a turnip seed, 

 with a dark smooth testa. Just within the latter lies the 

 embryo, which is curved round the central endosperm. Dur- 

 ing germination the cotyledons absorb the endosperm and 

 remain within the seed-coat some time after the root has made 



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