Page 40 - The Miracle In The Seed

THE MIRACLE IN THE SEED

many interesting features. Some are coated with
a bitter substance to deter enemies. Some are rich
in a chemical called tannin that prevents the se-
eds from rotting. The seed coats of several plant
species are covered in a kind of jelly-like substan-
ce, which consists of complex sugars fused with
proteins, and swells easily on contact with water
allowing the seed to easily stick to damp materi-
als. As you’ll see subsequently, this characteristic
plays an important part in the germination pha-
se. 11
The protective outer layer of a seed is usu-
ally extremely tough, protecting it from the exter-
These jelly-like objects nal forces it will encounter. For example, in the
belong to a variety of final phase of some seeds’ development, some
basil known as Ocimum
basilicum. A few minutes impervious waxy substances are deposited on
after its seed coats come the outer surface that make the seed resistant to
into contact with water, water and gas penetration. Depending on the
12
they start producing a
jelly-like substance, and variety of plant, seed coats may be covered with
thus assume the above
shown appearance.
Seeds of this variety
of basil are used in
Thailand and other
regions of the
Orient, particularly
added to fruit
juice. (Grains de
Vie, p. 24.)
The heavy seeds of
Ipomoea murucoide are
able to float on the air
due to these fine hairs.
Also thanks to these
hairs, the seeds roll along
the ground with the wind.
(Grains de Vie, p. 25.)