Term:
Embryo air chamber
Embryo air chamber
Definition:
Referring to an embryo with a chamber inside of the seed caused by bowed cotyledons.
Referring to an embryo with a chamber inside of the seed caused by bowed cotyledons.
Glossary Details:
Title: Bowed cotyledons and seed air chamber of Allantoma integrifolia. Photo S. A. Mori.
Description: Bowed cotyledons and seed air chamber of Allantoma integrifolia based on Cid Ferreira et al. 6760 from the state of Amazonas, Brazil. The seed on the left shows the hemispherical side up while the one on the right shows the flat side up. Note the bowed cotyledons in the cross sections and the seed rim on the right hand seed. This is a terra firme species so the bowed cotyledons may represent a vestigial adaptation to water dispersal or they may also represent an adaptation to wind dispersal by making the seeds more bouyant in the air. Note that the seed wings have been destroyed on the two seeds shown here.