20 
HOW PLANTS GROW FROM THE SEED. 
out of the seed, and let the root form from the lower end of it, while the plumule 
develops from its upper end directly into a strong leafy stem. Fig. 40 is an acorn 
cut through lengthwise. The whole kernel consists of a pair of very thick seed- 
leaves, loaded with starch, &c., and completely enclosing the very small and short 
stemlet, or radicle, seen at the bottom. Fig. 41 is the acorn with the seedling 
Oak growing from it ; the seed-leaves remaining in the shell, hut feeding the strong 
root which grows downwards and the stem which shoots so vigorously upwards. 
44. Acorns and horsechestnuts may not always be found germinating ; but in 
the Pea we have a familiar case of this way of growing, which may be observed 
at any season by planting a few peas. Fig. 42 is a pea with the seed-coat taken 
off, after soaking. Here the seed-leaves are so thick that the pair makes a little 
ball ; and the stout radicle or stemlet appears on the side turned to the eye. 
Fig. 43 shows the plantlet growing. The whole seed remains in the soil ; the 
plumule, well nourished by the great stock of food in the buried seed-leaves, alone 
rises out of the ground as a strong shoot, bearing an imperfect scale-like leaf upon 
each of its earlier joints, and then producing the real leaves of the plant, while the 
radicle at the same time, without lengthening itself, sends down three or four roots 
at once. So the whole plant is quickly established, and all the early growth is 
made out of food provided for it the year before by the mother plant, and stored 
up in the seed. One more illustration we may take from 
45. Indian Corn. Here the 
food provided for the early 
growth is laid up partly in the 
embryo, but mostly around it. 
Fig. 44 is a grain cut through 
flat-wise ; Fig. 45, another cut 
through the middle across its 
thickness ; and Fig. 46, the embryo, or germ, of another grain, taken out 
whole, — which may readily be done in green corn, or in an old grain 
after soaking it for some time in warm water. The separate embryo is 
placed to match that which is seen, divided, in the seed ; r is the radicle ; 
p, the plumule ; and c, the seed-leaf or cotyledon, which in this plant is 
single; while in all the foregoing there was a pair of seed-leaves. The 
greater part of the grain is the meal, or albumen, the stock of nourish- 
ment outside of the embryo. In germinating, this meal is slowly changed 
44 
47 
