Embryo types
Broad
Embryo small, as wide or wider than high and restricted to the lower half of the seed; seeds usually medium to large, endosperm abundant and generally starchy, cotyledons minute or larger.
Capitate
Embryo small and restricted to the lower half of the seed, expanded above into a head-like form; seeds usually medium to large, endosperm abundant and starchy, cotyledons minute.
_embryo_small.jpg)
(stained)
_embryo_small.jpg)
(stained embryo)
Lateral
Embryo basal-lateral or lateral, inclined to expand in the plane of the periphery, endosperm always starchy, small to half or rarely larger.
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(seed)
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(transverse cut)
Peripheral
Embryo ordinarily elongate and large, quarter to dominant, contiguous in part at least to the testa and often curved, perisperm (not endosperm) conspicuously starchy, central or in a few instances lateral.
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(transverse cut)
Rudimentary
Endosperm if present is non-starchy. Embryos not peripheral and is differentiated into organs. Embryo small in relation to endosperm and seed with Embryo:Seed length ratio of ≤ 0.5. Embryo as wide as long.
sp. pilulifer
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ssp. pilulifer
(transverse cut)
Linear Underdeveloped
Endosperm if present is non-starchy. Embryos not peripheral and is differentiated into organs. Embryo small in relation to endosperm and seed with Embryo:Seed length ratio of ≤ 0.5. Embryo longer than wide.
ssp. dura
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(transverse cut)
Linear Fully Developed
Endosperm if present is non-starchy. Embryos not peripheral and is differentiated into organs. Embryo large in relation to endosperm or endosperm lacking with Embryo:Seed length ratio of > 0.5. Cotyledon(s) not expanded, embryo longer than wide. Can be straight, bent, curved or coiled.
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(linear straight embryo)
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(linear bent embryo)
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(linear coiled embryo)
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(linear coiled embryo)
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(transverse cut)
Spatulate Underdeveloped
Endosperm if present is non-starchy. Embryos not peripheral and is differentiated into organs. Embryo small in relation to endosperm and seed with Embryo:Seed length ratio of ≤ 0.5. Embryo spoon-shaped.
queenslandica
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queenslandica
(transverse cut)
Spatulate Fully Developed
Endosperm if present is non-starchy. Embryos not peripheral and is differentiated into organs. Embryo large in relation to endosperm or endosperm lacking with Embryo:Seed length ratio of > 0.5. Cotyledons expanded and wider than the stalk but not invested into the stalk.
_small.jpg)
(excised embryo)
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(excised embryo)
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(transverse cut)
Investing
Endosperm if present is non-starchy. Embryos not peripheral and is differentiated into organs. Embryo large in relation to endosperm or endosperm lacking with Embryo:Seed length ratio of > 0.5. Cotyledons expanded and wider than the stalk and invested into the stalk.
_small.jpg)
(transverse cut)
Bent
Endosperm if present is non-starchy. Embryos not peripheral and is differentiated into organs. Embryo large in relation to endosperm or endosperm lacking with Embryo:Seed length ratio of > 0.5. Cotyledons expanded and wider than the stalk which is jackknife bent.
_small.jpg)
(transverse cut)
Folded
Endosperm if present is non-starchy. Embryos not peripheral and is differentiated into organs. Embryo large in relation to endosperm or endosperm lacking with Embryo:Seed length ratio of > 0.5. Cotyledons expanded and wider than the stalk and is folded in various ways.
_small.jpg)
(excised embryo)
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(excised embryo)
_small.jpg)
(transverse cut)
Undifferentiated
Endosperm if present is non-starchy. Embryos not peripheral and not differentiated into organs.
