Endosperm
-
Title
Endosperm
-
Definition
The energy-rich food supply of the seed that is formed by the fusion of the sperm and polar nuclei of the female gametophyte, initially surrounds the embryo, and is often apparent in the seed; some seeds, however, do not have any apparent endosperm.
-
Notes
Very few species of neotropical Lecythidaceae have endosperm when the seeds are ripe. As the embryo develops it depends on the endosperm as an energy source; thus, endosperm is most seen in the early developmental stages of the seed. Grias, however, is the only genus in which endosperm is still visible in mature seeds.
-
Related Terms
- *For more educational content, please visit The Hand Lens and explore our herbarium collections and the stories they tell.