96 



Seeds that are provided with more than one wing are furnished with slight 

 projections on the endosperm which correspond to the wings. A projection is also 

 present on some of the monopterous seeds, and a series of depressions and iidges as 

 well. 



In the non-winged division the principal types are — 



(a) Those that are somewhat pyramidal and more or less scaly, and usually with 



a microscopic fringe or jagged margin, which appears to give the seed a light 

 or feathery appearance, and which assists the seed to function as a wing. 

 For examples see E. punctata, fig. 12, Plate 262, and E. canaliculata, fig. 10, 

 Plate 262, E.cosmophylla, fig. 11, Plate 262. and also some of the. allied species 

 which are only slightly scaly or fringed. An example is E. globulus, fig 1, 

 Plate 262. 



(b) Non-scaly, but somewhat pyramidal, with rather conspicuous radiating 



ridges extending from a rather broadish terminal hilum to the edge. Invari- 

 ably the seeds of this group are thickish and more or less angular and some- 

 what irregular in shape. See E. Planchoniana, fig. 12, Plate 264, and other 

 members of the D-shaped series, and also E. sepulcralis, fig. 2, Plate 264, 

 which, though differing from the D-shaped scries in shape, is furnished with 

 prominent ridges and the surface of the ventral is more or less muricate. 



(c) Thick, with a large depressed ventral hilum surrounded by radiating ridges. 



Series Pachysperma. Members of this group connect with group (6). 



(d) Compressed ovate to nearly orbicular, usually with a small depressed ventral 



hilum and a more or less striate smooth testa. There is a total absence of 

 prominent ridges in this group, and the seeds are flattish and moderately 

 thin, and liable to be carried a considerable distance by the wind. They vary 

 in size from 1 to 3 mm. See E. pruinosa, fig. 2, Plate 260, and E. hemiphloia, 

 fig. 4, Plate 260. In shape the seeds of E. microcorys are similar to the above, 

 but the persistent honeycombed testa is very dissimilar, and may for the 

 present be placed next to the Series Lepidotse-Fimbriatge. The seed is light 

 and easily disseminated by wind or water. 



(e) Compressed ovate, often very acute, thin or slightly thickened, with faint 



obtuse angles, and with a smooth, somewhat obscurely pitted testa, and a 

 variously shaped ventral lrlum. It differs from group (d) mainly in angu- 

 larity and in thickness. E. Perriniana, fig. 1,E. rubida.fig. 2. SeeE*. Gunnii, 

 fig. 7, E. ovata, fig. 6, E. Lane-Poolei, fig. 8, E. oleosa, fig. 11, Plate 261. 



10. TESTA. 



" Testa (of fertile seeds, it is presumed) black, dark-coloured, or rarely pale, smooth or granular." 

 (Bentham.) 



In the majority of cases the testa is very thin and moderately soft. In a few 



instances it is hard and brittle, and in some of the larger seeds it is more or less 



coriaceous. In the former cases it breaks up when germination takes place, and 



