CHAPTER VII 

 THE SEED: ITS SELECTION AND DISTRIBUTION 



34. The Functions of the Seed. — Every part of a plant 

 has one or more duties to perform. The seed has three : 



First : to protect the tiny plant, embryo or germ within 

 it. 



Second : to assist in the work of distribution; that is, 

 to help to bring about its own removal from the parent 

 plant that it may find a favorable place in which to 

 germinate. 



Third: to nourish the young plant within it until the 

 latter is able to gather and manufacture its own food. 



35. How the Embryo is protected. — Each seed has 

 its characteristic seedcoat, or covering. Sometimes it is 

 thick, shell-like and woody as in the case of the nuts; 

 sometimes it is thin, paper-like and almost waterproof 

 as in the bean and com ; again, the seedcoat may become 

 covered with layers of fiber, or lint as in the cotton. No 

 matter what the form and structure of a seedcoat may 

 be, it protects the embryo plant within against the enemies 

 outside. Among these enemies are moisture, heat, drouth, 

 insects, molds, and animals. The chief of these is mois- 

 ture. 



36. How Seeds are scattered by Nature. — Seedcoats 

 not only protect the embryos within, but often assist the 

 seeds in becoming scattered. It is of the greatest impor- 

 tance to a plant family to have the seeds of each member 



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