SEED-COLORATION 389 



Nor can we look for an explanation of this variation in The colour 

 colour of the resting seed to the colour of the embryo in the bryolnttie 

 pre-resting or unripe seed. Thus exalbuminous seeds like and^reg*^^ 

 those of Pisum sativum (unwrinkled variety), C^esalpinia Sappan, seieds has no 

 Ulex europteuSy Vicia sativa, Cytisus Laburnum, etc., which display :'the final 

 great diiFerences in coloration in the resting seed, all have feguminous^ 

 green embryos as well as green coverings in the soft unripe s^^"^- 

 condition ; and the same remark applies to the albuminous 

 seeds of Bauhinia, Cassia fistula, and Poinciana regia. 



If we expect to find a clue in the colour of the leguminous 

 embryo in the resting state, we shall be also disappointed. 

 There is 'a uniformity of colouring in the embryo of the 

 resting exalbuminous seed which stands in no sort of relation 

 with the varied colouring of the coats of such seeds. As the 

 green embryo enters the resting state, its assumption of a paile 

 yellow or brownish-yellow hue indicates the destruction of the 

 chlorophyll. That green embryos thus change their colour 

 when the immature soft seed contracts and hardens in the 

 shrinking stage seems to be a general rule. This is brought 

 out by the table below in my discussion of green embryos of 

 leguminous seeds ; but more examples might be given, where, 

 although I have no note of the colour of the embryo in the 

 immature seed, its green colour is indicated by its yellowish 

 coloration in the resting seed, as, for instance, in Albizzia 

 Lebbek. 



In making further reference to the green embryos so in unripe 

 commonly found in unripe or pre-resting leguminous seeds, s^ds^reen 

 one must notice that when the embryo is green the seed-coat is t^^^coats** 

 generally green, but of a markedly paler shade. However, it usually go 

 is not difficult to find exceptions to the rule amongst exal- 

 buminous seeds. Thus with Entada polystachya the coats of 

 the soft unripe seed are white, but the enclosed embryo is 

 bright green ; whilst with the Broad Bes-n (^Faba vulgaris) the 

 embryo is bright green and the coats are white, tinged faintly 

 with greenish yellow. Nevertheless, as indicated in the 

 samples given in the table below, it is evidently the rule for 



