508 THE UNIVERSE. 



The seed, essentially a rudimentary organ like the egg 

 of the animal, shows itself almost constantly in an element- 

 ary form: it is generally globular, ovoid, or kidney-shaped; 

 rarely angular. 



Some seeds are so small that they are absolutely invis- 

 ible Avithout the aid of the microscope, as for instance those 

 of the Fungi; whilst others, like the Cocos {Cocos nucifera, 

 Linn.) of the Maldive Islands, reach the size of a man's 

 body. 



Some only preserve their germinative faculty for a few 

 hours; if they are not sown at the moment when the plant 

 offers them at maturity, as it were, they constantly abort. 

 Others, on the contrary, preserve their latent life through 

 many ages ; sheltered in our monuments or buried in an 

 unpropitious soil. After such a long sleep, perchance of 

 many thousands of years, if they are placed in a favourable 

 spot, they germinate, to our great astonishment. 



Two parts are to be distinguished in the seed : the in- 

 tegument and the kernel. 



The integument or envelope generally presents a cori- 

 aceous substance; sometimes, however, as in the case of 

 the pomegranate, it is only formed by a Avatery layer. Its 

 surface, usually smooth, is sometimes Avrinkled, hairy, or 

 finely honey-combed. 



In one region of it Ave see the trace of the spot Avhere 

 the cord adhered Avhich attached the grain to the mother 

 plant, and transmitted its nutritive juices to it. This im- 

 print bears the name of umbilicus. 



The kernel is formed of the embryo, a true plant in 

 miniature, surrounded by parts Avhich are to aid in its 

 evolution. 



Among these the cotyledons occupy the first place. 

 Tliey are usually fleshy, sometimes foliaceous, organs Avhich 



