Histology of medicinal plants

by William James Mansfield

PLATE 123
Cross-Section Sweet Almond Seed

1. Epidermis. 2. Hypoderm. 3. Vascular bundle. 4. Middle layer. 5. Inner epidermis. 6. Endosperm. 7. Outer layer of the embryo. 8. Inner layers of the embryo.

The middle layers. The cells forming the middle layers (Fig. 4) have thin, wavy, light-colored walls which are frequently compressed, and it is with much difficulty that their outlines are made out.

The inner epidermis. The cells forming the inner epidermis are rectangular in form, and they contain reddish-brown cell contents (Plate 123, Fig. 5).

ENDOSPERM

The endosperm. The cells forming the endosperm are large, rectangular in outline, usually one layer thick, and they contain aleurone grains.

EMBRYO

The embryo. The cells forming the outer layer of the embryo are smaller than the inner layers, and they are immediately inward from the layer of endosperm cells (Plate 123, Fig. 7).

The cells forming the greater part of the embryo are large, rounded, and they contain aleurone grains and fixed oil (Plate 123, Fig. 8).