112  Cassaba  and  Honey  Dew  Melons.      \ ^™b££?y fm\m' 
HISTOLOGY  OF  THE  HONEY  DEW  MELON. 
Alike  with  the  fruit  of  the  Cassaba,  this  melon  presents  for 
examination  pericarp  (ripened  receptacle  and  ovarian  wall)  and 
seed  regions. 
pericarp  (fig.  9). 
1.  The  e  pi  carp  (ep.)  in  surface  view  shows  for  the  most  part 
polygonal  cells  which  are  strikingly  similar  in  nature  to  those  of 
the  Cassaba  melon.    The  stomata  are  likewise  numerous,  but  their 
Fig.  8.  Cross  section  of  seed  of  Cassaba  Melon  (semi-diagrammatic),  showing  pali- 
sade epidermis  (ep) ;  sclerenchyma  zone  (st);  reticulated  parenchyma  (r) ;  perisperm  (n) ; 
endosperm  (al)  ;  cotyledons  (cot) ;  epidermis  of  cotyledon  (e) ;  palisade  parenchyma  (pal) ; 
and  spongy  parenchyma  (s).  Note  the  three  strands  of  fibrovascular  tissue  extending 
through  the  spongy  parenchyma  region,  as  indicated  by  groups  of  circles  (greatly  mag- 
nified). 
guard  cells  are  surrounded  by  6-8  irregular  shaped  neighboring 
cells.  Circular  scars  of  non-glandular  hairs  are  to  be  observed  in 
the  mature  fruit  which  have  a  diameter  of  from  35.2  microns  to 
41.6  microns  with  a  lumen  varying  from  9.6  microns  to  11.2  microns. 
In  cross  section  the  epicarp  cells  are  found  to  be  palisade-like, 
thickened  along  their  radial  walls  for  half  or  more  of  their  length 
and  up  to  105  microns  high.  These  cells  possess  numerous  small 
rounded  starch  grains. 
2  and  3.  The  mesocarp  and  endocarp  are  quite  similar  in 
structure  to  the  same  regions  of  the  Cassaba  Melon. 
SEED  (FIG.  II). 
L  Spermoderm,  consisting  of  (1)  a  palisade  epidermis  which 
readily  separates  from  the  subjacent  layers  upon  coming  in  contact 
with  water.  These  cells  are  105  microns  long  and  show  longitudinal 
ribs  strengthening  the  radial  walls;  (2)  sclerenchyma,  a  zone  of  2 
