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Seed  [ Botany ]

Dictionary of botanic terminology - index of names

Synonyms: Grain. 
Adjective: aaa 
Adverbbs: aaa 
     
  A fertilized grain, initially encased in a fruit, which may grow into a mature plant; A fertilized ovule, containing an embryonic plant;  
     
The part of a plant that can make another plant. Botanically, a seed is the matured ovule without accessory parts that is produced by gymnosperm and angiosperm plants which occurs after fertilization and some growth within the mother plant. It is a small embryonic plant enclosed in a covering called the seed coat, with or without some stored food (endosperm).

Usually a plant makes flowers, then once the flowers have been pollinated, they turn into fruit. The seeds are inside the fruit. Seeds can be spread by wind, water, or animals.
(see: dissemination)

Colloquially, a seed is anything which may be sown; i.e., seed potatoes (which are vegetative tubers); seed of corn, sunflower, etc.

     

 


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Holdfast roots  [ Botany  ]

Dictionary of botanic terminology - index of names

 
     
  Some species of climbing plants develop holdfast roots which help to support the vines on trees, walls, and rocks. By forcing their way into minute pores and crevices, they hold the plant firmly in place.  
     
Climbing plants, like the poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans), Boston ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata), and trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans),  develop holdfast roots which help to support the vines on trees, walls, and rocks. By forcing their way into minute pores and crevices, they hold the plant firmly in place. Usually the Holdfast roots die at the end of the first season, but in some species they are perennial. In the tropics some of the large climbing plants have hold-fast roots by which they attach themselves, and long, cord-like roots that extend downward through the air and may lengthen and branch for several years until they strike the soil and become absorbent roots.

Major references and further lectures:
1) E. N. Transeau “General Botany” Discovery Publishing House, 1994
     

 

 

 

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