6 NEW ZEALAND NATURE-STUDY BOOK 
If the grain be divided lengthwise by cutting it through 
the white patch from top to bottom, its structure can be 
readily seen. It consists of two principal parts separ- 
ated from each other by a flat plate, the scutellum. 
Below the scutellum is the embryo, consisting of plumule 
and radicle, and above it is the endosperm. A drop of 
jodine solution will show that this consists largely of starch 
—hbeing, in fact, the food stored up by the plant for the 
“use of the seed during the earlier stages of germination. 
About half the grain is occupied by the endosperm. 
The Wheat Grain.—The Wheat grain is boat-shaped © 
and smooth, convex on one side and having the other 
deeply furrowed. A tuft of fine 
hairs covers one end, whilst near 
the other end on the side opposite 
to the groove is a white depressed 
patch overlying the embryo. 
If the grain be now divided with 
s a sharp knife lengthwise along the 
groove, its similarity in structure 
ert with that of the maize grain will 
rad at once be apparent. The scutellum 
is easily found, but the embryo 
Hie yPearroson wtongn requires to be looked for. It will 
emb. embyro; rad, radicle; pt, be noticed in this case that the 
plumule; s, scutellum; en, 
endorsperm ; ¢, seed coat and 
fruit case. embryo forms but a small propor- 
tion of the seed, the bulk of which 
is occupied by the endosperm. 
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Germination of Wheat and Maize,—As in the 
case of the Bean seed, if a few grains of Wheat and 
Maize be placed in damp sawdust, or in the soil, for 
some days the various stages in germination and growth 
can be observed. For germinating seeds, sawdust has the 
