320 



THE SEED. 



ripening of some sort of catkin. The name is applied to the fruit of 

 the Hop, where the large and thin scales are bracts ; but it more 

 especially belongs to the Pine or Fir cone, the peculiar fruit of Co- 

 niferoe (Fig. 696), the scales of which are open carpels (560), bear- 

 ing two or more naked seeds upon their upper or inner face (Fig. 

 597). A more or less fleshy and closed cone, such as that of Taxo- 

 dium, and especially that of Juniper (Savin, Eed Cedar, &c.), which 

 at maturity imitates a berry, has been tenned a Galbaltjs. 



CHAPTER XI. 



OF THE SEED. 



Sect. I. Its Structure and Parts. 



626. The Seed, like the ovule (561), of which it is the fertilized 

 and matured state, consists of a Nucleus, or kernel, usually en- 

 closed within two Integuments. 



627. Its Integuments, &C. The outer, or 

 proper seed-coat, corresponding to the ex- 

 terior coat of the ovule, is variously termed 

 the Epispekji, Spermoderm, or more com- 

 monly the Testa (Fig. 599, b). It varies 

 greatly in texture, from membranaceous or 

 papery to crustaceous or bony (as in the 

 Papaw, Nutmeg, etc.), and also in form, being sometimes closely 

 applied (conformed) to the nucleus, and in other cases loose and 

 cellular (as in Pyrola, Fig. 927, and SuUivantia, Fig. 843), or ex- 

 panded into wings (as in the Catalpa and Trumpet-Creeper, Fig. 

 601), which render the seeds buoyant, and facilitate their dispersion 

 by the wind ; whence winged seeds are only met with in dehiscent 

 fruits. The wing of the seed of Pines (Fig. 598) is a part of the 

 surface of the scale or carpel to which it is attached, and which 

 separates with it. For the same purpose, the testa is sometimes 



FIG. 599. Vertical magnified section of the (anatropous) seed of the American Linden ; a, 

 the hilum ; b, the testa ; c, the tegmen ; d, the albumen ; c, the embryo. 600. Vertical section 

 of the (orthotropous) seed of Helianthemum Canadense ; a, the funicnlua. 



