Common Orchis — continued. 

 Germination of Date. 



In about two months 



Fig. 15. The Seed, or so-called Stone of the Date, was planted in a small pot and kept in a hot-house, 

 some of the seeds planted germinated, as shown in b and d. 

 (a.) Stone taken from Date. 



There is a little hollow on surface of seed, showing position of Embryo. Cut through at that spot. 



| Cover, a thin skin. 

 Seed. ' Embryo, small. 



( Endosperm, large and horny. 

 {b, c.) Germinating seed — c, in its natural position and in vertical section. 



One end of the single Cotyledon remains in the seed, absorbing the endosperm, while the other end lengthens 

 and carries with it the other parts of the embryo out of the seed. The primary root is developed with its root- 

 cap, and leaves are formed within the sheath of the cotyledon. 



(d.) The young leaves have burst through the sheath of the cotyledon, and the Primary root has become largely 

 developed, giving rise to numerous Rootlets. The primary root has a coil at the base, because it had 

 reached the bottom of the flower-pot 



