INTRODUCTION TO BOTANY. 
207 
Hile. 
Eye of the seed, Base of the seed, Hilum, Hylus, Umbi- 
licus, Cicatricula, Fenestra. A scar upon the surface of the 
outer skin of the seed , which shows the point by which the 
umbilical cord fastened the seed to the mother-plant . 
The hile is frequently placed in the middle of a spot* 
hollow, or elevation, and in describing plants ihis spot, &c. 
is included in the signification of the word hile. 
Dot like, Hilum punctiforme. Cruciferae. 
Linear, linear e . Long, narrow, with the sides parallel,, 
Faba. 
Line-like, lineolare. Resembling a plain stroke. Com- 
melina communis. 
Orbicular, orbicular e. JEsculus. 
Elliptic, ellipticum . Phaseolus. 
Heartshape, cordiforme. Areca, Cardiospermum. 
Convex, convexum . iEsculus. 
Concave, concavum. Cyclamen vernum. 
Strophiolate, strophiolatum . Composed of a row or rows 
of tubercles. Polygaleae. 
Comose, comosum. Woolly, Polygaleae. 
Ambiguous, ambiguum. Corresponding at the same time 
to the two ends of a bent or folded seed. 
Omphauode. 
Omphalodium. A protuberant point , usually placed in 
the middle of the cicatrix , where the nutrimental vessels en- 
tered the seed . 
Foramen. 
Micropyla. A point near the hile , which appears to be 
the place where the fecundating vessels entered the seed . 
Spile. 
Spilus. A small spot under the first cover of the fruit of 
the graminece at the 'internal base , which appears to be the 
real umbilicus or point where the vessels of the pericarpium 
enter the spermoderme , which is closely united with the peri- 
carp. 
Prostype. 
Prostypum, Prostypum funiculare. A slight elevation 
on the surface of the seed-covers , formed by the internal 
elongation of the vessels of the umbilical cord. 
