Geophilous Species of Peperomia . 
421 
Explanation of Text-figures of various seedlings in median longitudinal section. 
pt — wall round the seed (pericarp and testa) ; t = testa ; pm = perisperm ; e = endosperm ; 
c = cotyledons ; c x — absorbent, <r a = aerial cotyledon ; p = plumule ; hyp — hypocotyl ; h = cavity 
in the endosperm left by the withdrawal of one or both cotyledons. 
Figs, i and 2. Peperomia pellucida (after Johnson). 
1. Commencement of germination of the dicotyledonous embryo with its sheathing endosperm. 
2. The two aerial cotyledons free from the seed, which is empty and shrivelled. 
Figs. 3 and 4. P. peruviana. 
3. Slightly diagrammatic, showing the positions of the two cotyledons within the seed. 
4. One cotyledon (r x ) remains within the seed, the other becomes an assimilating organ (<r a ) ; in 
both cases the laminae are slightly peltate ; a large cavity is left in the endosperm on the withdrawal 
of the aerial cotyledon. 
Figs. 5 and 6. P. parvifolia, diagrammatic, since part only of a seedling has been found. 
5. The more complete specialization of the absorbent cotyledon (c x ) to form a club-shaped 
organ (cf. Fig. 22, PI. XXIX) and the rudimentary aerial cotyledon (r a ). 
6. Older seedling, showing the further development of the assimilating cotyledon (<r a ), which is 
of very little value as an absorbent organ, and the commencement of the hypocotyledonary swelling. 
Only a very small cavity is left in the endosperm on the withdrawal of the aerial cotyledon. 
Figs. 7-9, a typical Monocotyledon. 
7. The seed with the young embryo. The ‘ first leaf’ or second cotyledon is very rudimentary, 
and is covered over by the sheath of the absorbent cotyledon. It is carried out of the seed together 
with the plumule and radicle. 
8. The further development of the rudimentary aerial cotyledon from the base of the sheath of 
the absorbent organ (c x ), 
9. The aerial cotyledon ( c 2 ) has burst through the sheath of the absorbent cotyledon (r x ) and is 
pushing up into the air with a sharply curved petiole. 
